Sept. 28, 2026
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.
A separate lunch menu will smaller portions is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and the full menu is always available, Chavez said. There’s also a lunch special for $10 that changes every day, making it an easy way to try different dishes, she said.
“North of the Border” options — steaks and a burger — are available, along with a kids menu. The restaurant is accommodating for families, Chavez said. Recently, someone requested scrambled eggs with rice and beans for the children. “It’s not on the menu. Not a problem. We made it. … They were really happy.”
Party platters are available for takeout if they’re ordered in advance, and the restaurant might add catering eventually, Chavez said. Delivery is available through DoorDash.
Mi Ranchito has a beer and wine license, and it serves malt-based margaritas. The menu also includes micheladas, mangonada, horchata and jamaica, along with a rotating agua fresca flavor.
Jose “Pepe” Vega, who opened the family’s first Guadalajara in South Dakota – in Watertown in 1995 with one of this brothers — came out of retirement in California last year to transform the Sioux Falls Guadalajara, which opened in 2011. The updated restaurant was open for about nine months, but he was ready to return to retirement and put it up for sale.
He has been helping the Mi Ranchito team with their opening.
“The food is really good,” he said. “I’m impressed.”
To start, hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Search Google to see images of the menu, and follow the restaurant on Facebook for updates.
Dining and Cooking