Reviews El Rancho De Lalo

Brixton village is full of wonderful places to eat, with really authentic cooking from all around the world. Anthony and Becca picked out this wee gem that served absolutely amazing Columbian food. The menu has so much on offer that I couldn't decide what to taste, so I opted for the plate that had literally everything on it. The portion sizes are massive, and even when I had finished eating it looked like I hadn't even touched my food. With beef, sausage, pork, plantain, corn bread, beans and salad this dish was a mouth full. There were so many different flavours and it was incredible to taste so many different meats. If I had to pick a favourite part it would be the pork, which was spiced beautifully. It's incredibly good value for money, and there will be no complaints of still being hungry - in fact I think we all went into a food coma after eating. Be sure to get down fast, as its so small inside so you don't want to be turned away for dinner.

Brixton market has changed a lot over the past 10 years. It was always interesting and eclectic with great food, but now - trendier and more upscale - franchises like Okan and Honest Burger vie for your attention.
In amongst them, though, some of the regular mainstays of the market remain and continue to produce their own fantastic cuisine.
One of them, El Rancho de Lalo, is a great comfort food eatery serving up satisfyingly large savoury Colombian dishes.
It had been a long time since I had eaten in there, but with an empty stomach and having passed their tables at the front heaving with plates of meat, rice, plantain and avocado, there really was no other choice.
The market restaurant is quite cosy and usually full. In terms of ambience it is basic. The decor is nothing special and hasn't changed much, if at all, since inception. The abundance of staff, mostly Colombian, add to this bustle. They speak Spanish and English, but their Spanish is generally better and if you have anything complicated to get across it can get lost in translation. The kitchen itself, with a line-up of noisy women cooks, is right there in your face, sharing the dining space with you and the other customers.
Typically packed, I shared a small table with a middle-aged Colombian woman, who was already delicately prising apart a chicken quarter cooked 'til it had fallen off the bone. Her starter soup (or was it casserole? There is a thin line between them at this restaurant) looked enough of a meal in itself.
Meanwhile I couldn't help notice what was on other people's plates: a soup of pork and corn cobs, grilled steak and chicken escalope and an impressive looking dish of corn dough, filled with meat and vegetables, that had been steamed in banana leaves and brought to the table that way.
I ordered the pork escalope, which came with a mound of rice, a chopped lettuce and tomato salad, baked potato, avocado and plantain. On the side I had a serve of corn bread, a flat hard disc, softer, thankfully, in the middle that was oddly reminiscent of roast chestnuts, its exterior scorched in places.
On the table was a bowl of chilli dip that carried the unmistakeable diffusion of scotch bonnet peppers, or chicken peppers as many know them locally.
I liberally ladled this on to my escalope and set about mixing and matching the various parts of my meal, pausing to chew on some cornbread when the peppers threatened to send me convulsing into hiccups.
The two crumbed escalopes, beaten into thin arcs were tender and well cooked and the plantain firm and sweet. To wash it down I had a glass of blackberries and milk called Mora, a kind of Colombian smoothie. The whole meal was filling and delicious.
The staff were genial and quick to see me to a table, get my order, and even give me a friendly send off. All that's good about people in Brixton.
Recommended.

This Colombian restaurant is a crowd pleaser. I have always had a good experience when I have been here. The service is good, they have both Spanish and English speaking staff. Every day there is a special menu, which gives you an option of a soup, main and drink for a great price. Small to large meals for all different size palettes.

This is by far my absolute favorite place to eat in London! The food is authentic and delicious and the service was amazing. We got a Bandeja Paísa and a Chuleta de Pollo, and it felt like I was at home! My arepa and arequipe were delicious as well! I would recommend this place hands down. The music and decor were also incredible, and it is not far from the Brixton tube station as well. If I'm ever in London again, I will definetely be returning!

Come hungry and leave happy, huge portion sizes of delicious Colombian food. Everything was delicious, all the meat cooked very well. Nice locals atmosphere with families having birthday parties at the weekend and a wholesome lively vibe.

I had breakfast at El Rancho de Lalo and I must say I was impressed! The food was delicious and full of flavor, and the service was friendly and attentive. The restaurant has a cozy and welcoming atmosphere, perfect for starting the day with a good meal. I especially enjoyed the arepas and the huevos , which were simply delicious. The prices are also very reasonable, considering the quality of the food and the portion sizes. If you're looking for a tasty and authentic Colombian breakfast in Brixton, I highly recommend El Rancho de Lalo!

This place was on my list for a while. After hearing so many things about this place I took the decision to find out myself. Getting there is easy, just head up to Brixton and find the restaurant next to McDonald’s. I have to say. I’ve been to many other Colombian restaurants and this one is by far one of the few Colombian restaurants I will recommend you to go. The service was always on point, waitress was always around making sure that I was having a good experience (at least in my experience). He explained the menu very clear and that’s something important. The food is good, trust me you will be fine with one plate. Now my only concern and this is me being picky, they have some plates that I will probably have in other restaurants rather than this one. I will highly recommend you to get always the “meal of the day” soup + main course + drink. You will not be disappointed and trust me, you will leave that place happy. On the other side if you are looking for “a la carta” some of those plates are way better in other restaurants, once again this is me being picky. Overall, this restaurant is definitely a good place to share with your friends and family. Service is good, food is good and the place is comfortable. Well done El Rancho de Lalo!