June 17, 2024
David and Gloria Romero were born in Mexico and initially moved to Texas. In 1965 they moved their two sons and seven daughters to Kansas and in 1968 they opened up El Ranchito Cafe in Ulysses, Kansas.
David passed away in 1973 leaving Gloria to run the restaurant. And in 1978 the family came up with an idea to keep the restaurant going for years to come — rotating management of the restaurant amongst the nine “kids.” To this day, every few years the restaurant gets different management. I’m unsure I know of another restaurant doing this for such a long time.
There are several other El Ranchitos that are owned by some or all of the kids. I don’t know where they all are, but I believe they own the one in Lakin, Kansas and in Liberal, Kansas. I also am not sure if it’s still open or not, but believe they used to own one in Hugoton, Kansas.
When I dropped by I ordered a bowl of green chili with tortillas, as well as a small burrito smothered with green chili. I was recommended to get the green chili. It was a decent green chili with some nice sized pork in it. And the prices were more than reasonable too. It’s such a cool story in an area of the state that doesn’t get a lot of attention.
— TKG out
