Tacos El Compita #2
Birria de Chivo
QuesaBirria – Birria de Chivo, Salsa Verde, Onions, Corn Tortilla, Cheese, Birria Oil
Compita’s Nachos – Cabeza, Corn Tortilla Chips, Guacamole, Sour Cream, Pico de Gallo, Queso Fresco
Combinaction al Gusto – Lengua, Salsa Verde, Rice, Beans, Lettuce, Tomato, Avocado, Corn Tortillas
Combinaction al Gusto – Carne Asada, Salsa Roja, Rice, Beans, Lettuce, Tomato, Avocado, Corn Tortillas
Combinaction al Gusto – Pollo, Salsa Verde, Rice, Beans, Lettuce, Tomato, Avocado, Corn Tortillas
Combinaction al Gusto – Al Pastor, Salsa Roja, Rice, Beans, Lettuce, Tomato, Avocado, Corn Tortillas
Serving Las Vegas for over a decade, Tacos El Compita has earned a reputation as one of the spots Mexicans go for no-frills favorites, and although currently limited to take-out amidst COVID-19 precautions the Restaurant at 7622 Westcliff Drive is still pulling big crowds.
One of three current locations, a few miles west of the original at Charleston and Jones, it was minutes after 11:00am that nearly twenty guests were found waiting at six-foot social distance, markers on the floor assuring staff and customer safety while employees and guests were all clad in personal protective equipment.
Cash only and open at 8am, though credit cards can be used with long waits avoided by using online ordering, it was having prepaid that Food was ready by 11:15am, cooks working quiet at top speed while soccer played on a television in the background.
Carefully packed with Sauces and warm Tortillas on the side, the Salsa Bar currently closed for obvious reasons, it was ten minutes later at home that Styrofoam containers were opened, the smell of Peppers and Onions having already perfumed the car and first bites of Birria remarkably tender despite a fairly small portion of Meat compared to Bone.
Better off with El Compita’s signature “QuesaBirria,” available as Beef or Goat with plenty of melty Cheese inside a Tortilla griddled with Birria Oil, Compita’s Nachos also fare well with Chips standing up nicely to Cheek, Guac, Sour Cream, Pico de Gallo and Queso Fresco that was visibly seen microwaved prior to service.
Passing on the best-selling “5-Taco Plate,” instead allowing guests to build their own with four styles of Meat, it was only by request that Tortillas were included by busy Staff, and although the Beans and Rice are mostly forgettable the Tongue as well as Carne Asada are both great while Chicken and Pork are a step behind but also enjoyable.
THREE AND A HALF STARS: Well priced, and operating with customer safety in mind during the pandemic, Tacos El Compita #2 is best thought of as a stand or truck with brick-and-mortar boundaries, a no-frills experience that has its appeal but also suffers certain limitations.
RECOMMENDED: QuesaBirria, Compita’s Nachos, Cabeza, Lengua, Al Pastor.
AVOID: Birria de Chivo was 60% Bones and Staff would have included no Tortillas if not reminded.
TIP: Located at 7622 Westcliff Drive and currently open from 8a-9p daily. No website but menu and ordering available via Grubhub as well as Seamless.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor.
