Avila's El Ranchito

4 ratings
$$ • Mexican Restaurant
Reported NOT to have a gluten-free menu
Safety Rating
3 ratings

As rated by the community

27941 La Paz Road
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

Most Recent Reviews


Celiac

Overall Rating

Review


Our "go to" for local Mexican food. I have a Celiac diagnosis. Some waiters more knowledgeable than others. if in doubt, ask for a manager. Family owned chain in Orange County with the Best Mexican food!

Safety


How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Quality & Quantity


Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Good

Updated 1 year ago read full review

Overall Rating

Review


The staff are friendly but there is not a dedicated fryer and they admitted that they have no way of guaranteeing the meal would be 100% gluten free.

Celiac friendly?

No

Updated 7 years ago read full review

Celiac

Overall Rating

Review


Food is excellent! Chips are NOT fried in a dedicated fryer. Our server Emmanuel was all over making sure my food was safe. Chilli Rellenos are fried in the same fryer as the chips. They have a good GF menu. We sat outside and enjoyed every bite!!!

Updated 8 years ago read full review

This establishment is NOT a dedicated gluten-free facility and may not be safe for those with celiac disease. Please contact the establishment directly to inquire about safety precautions.

Gluten-Free Features

  • None Listed

Categories

  • Dinner
  • Lunch
  • Mexican
  • Restaurant

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More Reviews


Symptomatic Celiac

Overall Rating

Review


Excellent! I'm always nervous to try new restaurants. When we walked in the door the manager greeted us and went over every single gluten-free option with me before we were even sitting down. She made me feel totally at ease. We decided to stay. The chips are made in a separate fryer from everything else so I was able to have chips and salsa at the table which I haven't had in ages. I ordered the carnitas with beans and rice. My symptoms usually appear within 24 hours of eating the food and a week passed without a problem. I would 100% recommend this place for anyone eating on a gluten-free diet including celiacs like me.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Updated 9 years ago read full review

Reviews of this Chain

Overall Rating

Review


Our experience here was so good we went back for a second night in a row. The food is very fresh, well-prepared, and flavorful. We never had any sign of having been glutened.

The first night we both had asada plate and the meat was good quality and cooked perfectly. The second night I had the shrimp botana platter and Oh My Gosh was it amazing!! The wood fire grilled shrimp was to die for, and the fresh avocado and tomato with it was super yummy!

My husband also loved their California Cadillac margarita and I had a virgin blended lime margarita both nights and it was excellent. Definitely recommend!!

Safety


How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Quality & Quantity


How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Overall Rating

Review


Definitely not celiac friendly. Unless you can handle salads there’s truly nothing they’re everything‘s in a mixed fryer. They put flour in sauces and flour cross-contamination all over the kitchen. It’s a beautiful beautiful interior place together but I don’t think I’ll ever go there again. The chips are in a mixed fryer. There’s no accommodation for changes. It was just +20$ for a couple corn tortillas and some very dry stringy chicken breast. I’m also allergic to raw onion and they only use pico so there’s no way to get tomatoes and cilantro separately. Truly, if you’re in orange call around the corner to Wahoos and pray that Taco Adobe opens soon again in old town orange

Safety


How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not at all

Quality & Quantity


Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much/None

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Poor

Gluten Intolerant

Overall Rating

Review


Some of the tacos default to flour tortillas so be careful. I mistakenly saw corn on the menu for most of the tacos and ended up accidentally eating a flour tortilla. I wouldn’t recommend this restaurant due to safety issues and cross contamination

Safety


How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not very

Quality & Quantity


Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Average

Celiac

Overall Rating

Review


I got really excited to eat here based on the other reviews, but something must have changed since they went. The chips are no longer in a dedicated fryer and I did not feel reassured by my waiter that my food would be safe. I ended up cancelling my order and leaving because it just felt like too many red flags.

I hope in the future they can have a dedicated fryer and be willing to reserve/clean space for their gluten free menu dishes again.

Safety


How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not very

Quality & Quantity


Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much

Celiac

Overall Rating

Review


Corn chips but they are fried in the same fryer as flour. Mexican fried rice is also cross contaiminated.

I ordered the carnitas which had to substitute the rice for salad or vegetables.

There is a separate menu online of GF options marked.

Food as a whole was "okay." Meat was try, the salsa and avocado was flavorless.

Safety


How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Safety Feature Ratings
  • Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions

Quality & Quantity


Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Below Average

Other


Other Characteristics
  • Good vegan options
  • Offers outdoor seating

More Info