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Most restaurants are fortunate if they survive five years. But five decades? Nearly impossible.
Avila’s El Ranchito in Newport Beach has defied the odds, marking its 50th anniversary this month. It’s been an exciting ride for the family-owned restaurant, which now boasts 12 locations, most in Orange County (one is in Huntington Park).
The Avila’s story started in the 1950s when Salvador and Margarita Avila emigrated from Guanajuato, Mexico with their young son Sergio and landed in Huntington Park in 1959, where they opened the first Avila’s El Ranchito in 1966.
Sergio loved to surf and moved to the Newport Beach peninsula in 1971, commuting to Huntington Park to help run his parents’ restaurant.
Eventually, Sergio discovered that a small restaurant on the corner of 28th Street and Newport Boulevard had become available. He opened Avila’s El Ranchito Newport Beach with eight employees and seating for 40 customers.
Now 50 years later, the restaurant—which has more than doubled its seating capacity—has become a Newport Beach institution that continues to serve the original Avila’s family recipes.
Sergio still surfs and rides his bike to the restaurant, where he works alongside his daughter, Maribel Avila Ley, who helps run that location and the Avila’s El Ranchito in Corona del Mar. The other 10 locations are also owned and operated by members of the Avila family.
So how did Avila’s El Ranchito manage to last 50 years in an often-fickle industry? Easy, said Maribel: great food and service.
“Our core items are all grandma’s recipes from the original menu—the enchiladas, the sauces, the steaks, the way the carnitas are cooked. All of the core items are exactly the same at every location,” said Maribel. “Where we have fun is the clientele. Here we have fresh fish, more salads. But at all locations the number one seller is the soup.”
And not just any soup. This is Mama Avila’s soup, with fresh chicken broth, chunks of chicken breast and rice garnished with avocado, tomato, cilantro and lime. The bowl is served with warm tortillas.
Maribel noted that it is rare to find an OC-based restaurant that’s been around for 50 years with the same owner. Paul Berkman founded the first Rutabegorz in Fullerton in 1970 and has since opened two other locations in Tustin and Old Towne Orange.
“Other restaurants have been bought and sold, but this has been owned by my dad for 50 years,” Maribel said of Avila’s in Newport Beach. “He has seen the history of Newport Beach and the evolution of the community. He has changed and adapted with the times. He lives and works in the same community—he loves the community and has been a part of it.”
To celebrate the 50th anniversary, the Newport Beach location is bringing back its $5 all-you-can-eat Taco Tuesday for two dates only (April 22 and 29).
Avila’s has partnered with Miracle for Kids and Celaya tequila. For every margarita sold through April 30, $2 will be donated to Miracles for Kids. Celaya tequila has offered to match the donations, for a total of $4 per margarita sold. Avila’s has also created a special Miracle Margarita: Celeya blanco, muddled raspberries, lime juice and agave.
Avila’s El Ranchito, 2800 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach, (949) 675-6855, avilaselranchito.com.
Trela’s Hot Take
Maribel Avila Ley invited me to dine at the Newport Beach location and try some of the menu items, including several signature margaritas. The famous chicken soup caught my attention. This is a best-seller for a reason: the portion is generous, and the flavors of the broth, chicken, rice and accouterments blend perfectly. This is truly memorable soup, and one I’d consume every day if I could.
I also tried the carnitas platter, a sizzling plate of fajitas and a tasty new menu item: surf and turf tacos with carne asada and shrimp. As with the soup, the portions are all generous and full of savory flavor.