Don't be suprised if you have never heard of or seen El Ranchero. It is an inconspicous building located just west of the 51 on McDowell. I had driven past it several times and never realized it was even occupied much less a restaurant.
Firs off there is nothing at El Ranchero that is bad, in fact it is all good from the tacos & quesadillas, to the sopes. There is one item on the menu however that stands above all else......THE BIRRIA!! (goat soup). You must understand that the birria here is not only good for Phoenix, as is the case most often with Phoenix Mexican food, It is good for everywhere. I have eaten birria in many a cities in the U.S. and Mexico and this one is definitley tied for first.
I believe the secret is El Ranchero's cooking staff. It is made up of mostly older women with the magical hands and love that make Mexican food great (a common sight in mexico, but very rare in the U.S.). Not only to these ladies make a delicous slow cooked birria, but they also make fresh tortillas to go along with it.
Buen Provecho
Note: Nothing goes better with birria than hand made fresh tortillas, an ice cold mexican coke, and a hangover.