Wow, are the ratings all over the map for this one! I liked their other (fast food) location, so I whipped in here to see what IS. Now this is a full service, mid-sized restaurant, & was about half full of a perky lunchtime crowd when I arrived today. It has only tables, no booths, but it was easy to find a comfortable spot to land, & the lighting & temperature inside were right. Soon after being seated, I received a menu, a basket of ok chips, & two small cups of salsa... a mild chunky one, & a medium pureed version. I liked both of them. Eee Gadz!! The prices on the menu are alarmingly high, especially for weekday lunchtime! For example, if you ordered a #10 Combo, consisting of a taco & a tamale, with rice & beans, you are already at $9.25. I like 3 items, so adding a Chile Relleno, for example, at $6.25, brings your lunch price up to FIFTEEN DOLLARS & FIFTY CENTS WITHOUT A DRINK!! (The same thing, for comparison, would be $8.99 at either Macayo's or On the Border in Ahwahtukee, both fancier restaurants in a fancier neighborhood.) :-O ..."and out the door I went!", as George Thorogood once famously said. ...Well, not so fast. A little blue card on the table offers a variety of "Chico" (little boy) specials for $5.75 to $7 something. I ordered a #C, which brought a small beef taco, a cheese enchilada, & a smallish chile verde burro, plus Spanish Rice & refried beans topped with cheese. You know what? THIS order was an excellent value, & so was the taste of all the food, especially the fiesty burro! With the chips it was enough to eat too, so I just have to give these guys 4 Stars based on my dining experience here today. Once you run out of the lunch specials to try though, get ready to pay through the nariz to eat here! #C Lunch Combination Special $6.25 PS: The crowd here was ALL AGES! :-)
(4)
Beth K.
Their chips and salsa are delicious! Love their guacamole too! I don't know why they aren't as busy as they used to be. I still enjoy the food, I think it's not as good as it was in the past (like they changed chefs or owners), but it's still tasty. Some of our faves are chimichangas, green tamales, cheese crisp with machaca and their refried beans. It's good stuff and they deserve more business.
(4)
Deb L.
A okay for grandma and grandpa ..bring them on in they will love it.."real" Mexican food served old people style. Service is slow but who are we kidding ?Grandma and grandpa aren't hurrying anywhere and they love spending time with you. So take grandma to lunch and treat her to the cheapie lunch special , she will get to try out her Spanish with words like TA-CO and Enchee-La -Da... it will be a memorable moment for you both . Wheelchair accessible and close to Beatitudes nursing home ...make plans to visit your grandparents today.
(2)
Kris C.
All I can say is that my hubby (a.k.a. the man who eats to live not lives to eat) RAVED about how good their enchilada sauce was. I think we have found our new favorite go-to mex place. AND, last night was JAZZ NITE...a bit weird ambiance for a Mexican food restaurant but WAY FUN! Can't wait to go back.
(4)
Brenda M.
As always the chicken burro with the green corn sauce is the bomb! My spouse loves, loves, loves the green chili beef burro enchilada style. You can't go wrong with any of the cheese crisps!!! Coldest beer and coldest pint glass I have had in the valley. Thank you David. Mary, our server, was awesome too! We live in the neighborhood and have gone here 10+ years.
(5)
Marissa B.
I've been here a few times and I love their chips and salas. The chips are extra thin and very crispy. I get salsa and they ask if I want the hot sauce, yes to both. This visit I ordered the Breakfast Burro (Chico Bean Burro topped with green chili beef and egg). First, the side was red potatos with grilled veggies (red bell peppers and onions). The potatos were egh and the veggies tasted like they over did it on the oil. After a few bites of the green chili beef with scrambled egg I pushed it aside and attacked the bean burro. The chili was bland and salt/pepper helped but it just wasn't that great. I was craving the bean burro, so either it was good or I was just satisifying a craving. It was something different but next time I'll stick to the plain bean burro, the beef and chicken tacos are pretty decent (a bit more expensive than I'm used to). Service was attentive: 1. I felt bad that she was very pregnant and I was making her work. Even though I wasn't demanding I felt bad for her feet. LoL Silly I know. And she kept calling me Hun..
(3)
Kenda V.
Family owned Mexican joint close to the office. Friendly service, seated me promptly during lunch rush. Very pleasant staff. Nice fresh chips. The standard salsa they bring is OK for your rice & beans but ask for the good stuff (habanero based) they keep in the back, nice scalp tingling affect! I never order specials - the shredded beef tack and bean tostado were quite tasty and had no unpleasant after-effects! Here's the Pizzaz factor for me - on WEDNESDAYS during lunch there is a piano player and his musical offering made a pleasant backdrop to snap you out of the mid-week slump! Just added this to my Lunch date list!
(3)
Barbara S.
It never ceases to amaze me that in the competitive restaurant market that exists in the Phoenix metro area, sub-standard restaurants not only exist, but exist for years and years! Such is the case for Los Compadres. We actually ate there eons ago, and recall it being fairly good. But a lot of years and a lot of Mexican food meals have gone by. Fast forward to the present. We found ourselves traveling down Northern (don't ask why) and noticed it was still there. In a weak (dare I say - nostalgia?) moment, we thought: hey, it's dinnertime - let's go to Los Compadres! The neighborhood and strip mall have changed...a lot...over the years. Closed & fenced in former restaurant on the corner, lots of empty storefronts. But, there it is - Los Compadres. And the parking lot was pretty full. Good sign, right? (Maybe the cars were there for the dive bar next door.) We were seated right away, and a nice young man was soon there asking if we'd like anything to drink. Yes, two margaritas please. Chips and salsa followed thereafter - salsa had a good flavor - obviously homemade. The "hot sauce" was not so hot, and not very tasty. We're not afraid of spicy food, so we asked the waiter if he had any Cholula sauce (so we could add some zing to the "hot" sauce.) He said he had Tabasco or habanera sauce. Wow - zero to habanera! Nothing in between! Well, bring on the hot stuff! It came in a bowl (waiter said they don't get much call for it.) We added some to the salsas and they ended up tasting better. The menu is typical of Sonoran-style Mexican fare. We ordered: 2 hard shell tacos - 1 machaca beef, 1 carne asada; 1 chicken burro. We like green chili, but only saw 'green chili & corn' as a topping option. When asked about it, the waiter simply said it was green sauce with corn. Thank you - I think I had figured that out already. So, the burro was ordered 'naked', with the idea of using the salsa on top. When the food came, the poor burro looked so lonely. Sure there was some shredded lettuce on the plate, but not even the standard chopped tomatoes, shredded cheese & olive! One taco arrived; the waiter told us the kitchen mixed up the order & made a flauta instead; they were making the other taco & it should be ready shortly. When it came, it was a soft taco on a flour tortilla. Not worth it to send it back. The burro was stuffed with cheese & very bland chicken. There were quite a few patrons in the restaurant when we arrived so the place is obviously popular. But I am not sure why. The food was underwhelming, the atmosphere is underwhelming, and the location is dodgy. The staff was friendly, though, I'll give them that. Definitely will not return - no matter how reminiscent my mood gets!
(2)
A H.
Flew into Phoenix to see family. And on my way home from the airport we stopped here. It's been at least 20 years since I've been here. Though it has been painted and some modern fixtures added, it's the same joint--and that delights me!! Food was fresh, plentiful, and reasonably priced. Our server was diligent and cheerful. The restaurant was clean and bright. My dad and I got to catch up over a nice meal and really enjoyed our visit. Didn't visit the restrooms or the bar, however there was a table-tent on our table speaking about Happy Hour Specials. That's a plus!! Thanks you guys. Hope to make it back sooner!!
(4)
Jorge M.
Came to eat lunch. I've been to the 7th ave location. Loved it. Northern location not so great. The albondiga soup didn't have any taste to it had to add salt and pepper to give it flavor and the corn tortillas were micro waved and hard. The chips were good. Will give it another try another day.
(2)
Wally S.
I see why this place is not busy. Very bland food and just putting the burro on a hot plate does not make it taste better. Wasted that money.
(1)
Gloria S.
Decided to try Los Compadres since they were mentioned in Phoenix Magazine. I don't know who they talked to, but the food was OK. I guess my expectations were higher because of Phoenix Magazine. I had the cheese enchiladas, and there was nothing unique about them. This is Mexican food for non-Mexicans. I give three stars because it was not terrible...but, I can open a can of enchilada sauce and make my own. Sorry.
(3)
Stephanie F.
This was one of the first restaurants I visited when I moved to the area. I was very disappointed. I think I would more likely call this "American Mexican" which was not Mexican at all. Everything was al carte. They didn't have "combo" plates, which typically include rice and beans. I had to order them "on the side". But when I got home all I got where my tacos, in like a store bought pre-fab shells, and no rice and beans, even though paid for it.
(1)
Susan B.
Tasty, reliable fare at this super clean restaurant. David, the owner, is friendly and approachable. Love the green chili and also the homemade salsa. Salads are a hit also. Nice touch is the occasional piano playing at lunchtime and jazzy sic some nights. Catering is also yummy and super easy.
(5)
Markanthony F.
This place is no where near mexican food. Everything seems to be out of the freezer or a can. My entire experience at this restaurant was horrible.
(1)
Kate S.
My family and I came here for some comfort food. It had been years since we had been there. The decor, still looks like they are stuck in the 80's. Sadly, we will not be returning ever again. The food was horrible! And not just one dish, all 4 dishes! The green and red chile tasted as if they used an obsessive amount of flour to thicken it. The meat in the machaca burrito was crispy and burnt. I felt so bad for my cousin who tried to eat through it thinking it would get better, he finally gave up. Their rice, tastes like instant rice in the microwave smothered in tomato sauce. Sadly, we had really been looking forward to this visit.
"Although it is your typical Mexican food they do a good job of making it tasty at good prices. There green burritos are really good."
(4)
Annette A.
tasteless... salsa like tomato sauce. Albondigas lacked flavor. Enchiladas were like a quesadilla with tomato sauce. Unsual for this place. It used to be great. Not sure what happened. :(
(2)
Laura E.
Careful when you order large. Cause while it says large, what it really means is huge. You won't be able to finish it. I like this place because it's not too fancy and doesn't put on airs. Simple. Plain. Gets the job done.
(3)
Lola S.
Been coming here since I was in a high-chair in the 1980's and threw rice on the floor. I'm not in a high chair anymore, but still throw rice on the floor when I get excited. The machacha burro is the best in the valley, IMO. Cheese crisp with chili strips, YUM! Sasparilla bottle to drink with my meal. Free chips with unlimited refills, served with free salsa (mild and hot). Delicious, just stick with the machacha burro! This is a family owned restaurant that employs neighborhood kids. Support local business, this one is great!
(4)
Steve R.
BEST MEXICAN FOOD in AZ. Personal favorite: chicken burro enchilada style, no garnish.
(5)
Korina A.
Bland, boring, "Mexican-esque" food. Warning sign #1: all white people dining there. Warning sign #2: salsa that's bland as ketchup Warning sign #3: no hot sauces on the table The three of us each had a different item from the lunch specials. Yet our plates looked almost indistinguishable from one another. On each was some configuration of flour tortillas, mountains of shredded iceberg lettuce, and a slick of pale refried beans, all topped with orange cheese. You can get more flavorful "Mexican" food at Del taco. This place is more like Mexican't food. Ulgh. I want my $5.25 back.
(1)
Georgia R.
For some reason, I don't think this Los Compadres is as good as the other. This one is a full-service restaurant, so you'd think that fo shiz it would be better than its order at the counter cousin. But not true my friend, not true. The service is fine and the food is really good, but it's missing a little something. That little order-at-the-counter Los Compadres kick if you will. Honestly, it's probably ALL in my head, but if I have the choice, I will pick the 7th Avenue Los over this one any damn day.
(4)
Alexander C.
Me and my tummy have a very close relationship. The 2 of us are always in adventure mode, especially around my work zone. My friend Brian also has a very close relationship with his tummy as well though isn't adventurous at all. So when he suggests a place I know that its going to be simple, down home and risk free. So after a brief conversation the 4 of us were off to Los Compadres. We were sat immediately which lucky for us we planned early since this place fills up really fast. Warm chips and 2 kinds of salsa are put in front of you almost as quickly as you are sat. The thinner spicy salsa was the better of the 2, my tummy agreed. While Brian liked the thinner version his tummy was like, oh hell no! Now getting down to business we ordered lunch specials and get this they are 4.95 - 6.95, 11a-3p daily! Talk about dine on a dime, Rachael eat your heart out baby! Ordered a C, taco, enchilada, green burrito with rice and beans. No what Brian order has me stumped. You see we were both distracted by one of the other guests, a very lean and handsome Latino.. so I didn't even pay attention to what Brian ordered.. I think it was an enchilada and taco or something. The food and service here are very fast and friendly. Though Brian said to avoid the bald guy's station that he's not very nice to his guests. Lunch was out in under 10 minutes so we had plenty of time to ogle over the eye candy only 2 tables away. When the food arrived it was piping hot! The portion sizes were generous and the smell was great! I dug right in.. the green chile burro was pretty darn good.. it almost had a creamy quality to the sauce. So I spilled some of the chile onto my tostada and in a couple of crunches had managed to woof the whole thing down. The taco was eh, crunchy but not very flavorful. My tummy was purring as we left.. I could tell our tummies were saying good things about us as well as our eyes. What a feast!
(3)
Teresa F.
I agree with the 'Village Inn" of Mexican food statement. I've been to the Northern location three times since being in Phoenix. Nico practically grew up here: him and his family have been coming for years and he even worked here in high school. I get the whole nostalgic thing. I've had the taco salad (unseasoned ground beef, yuck), chicken and cheese enchilada (decent, but nothing too fabulous) and the cheese crisp (very good, but could use some mexi seasoning). Chips and salsa are so-so, but again nothing to rave about. Margaritas are also just okay. What makes the place charming is the service. Nico knows them all and we get top notch service every time. The decor doesn't scream Mexico and I like that. I know we will continue to visit Los Compadres, especially when Nico's mom is in town, I will just keep trying new dishes until I find my favorite. I will also try the 7th Ave location as it seems to get better reviews.
(3)
Lesa C.
Never again! Bland, boring, cafeteria style food. The beans tasted stale. The machaca beef in the taco was dry and tasteless. The rice has NO flavor. The only thing that was remotely good was the tortilla around the "red" burro which consisted of stew meat and beans. Nothing "red" about it. I requested the hot salsa to pour over everything just so it would taste like SOMETHING. Decor and customers are circa 1965. It was at least clean.
(2)
Bri D.
Today is Administrative Assistant's Day, YAY, so our school's parent club took us all out to lunch here. There were about 20 ladies all together and we arrived pretty much the second they opened. They had a table all set up for us and ready to go. We were immediately brought chips and salsa. The chips were very plain, but I kept eating them. Our bowls of chips were never empty. We only had one girl taking care of our whole table, but after a couple rounds of refilled sodas she seemed to be getting the hang of it. We kept her pretty busy but she handled it well. The kitchen however, had a little difficulty and there was about a 15 minute difference between the time the first person was served and the last person. Oh well, we all got our food and it was all correct. I ordered the cheese enchilada and chimichanga (a mini one) combination plate. The beans that came with the dish were sprinkled with cheese and very tasty. They were surprisingly smooth and buttery, I'm not really picky about the beans. The enchilada was a big fat disappointment to me because there were onions inside. I thought it would just have cheese, because everywhere else I have gone and gotten a cheese enchilada it was just plain inside. The chimichanga was actually really good to my picky palate. The shredded beef was flavorful and juicy. It was also covered in cheese, and that is always a good thing in book. I could also do without the shredded lettuce on my plate. I'm not sure what purpose it served. Overall, it was a pretty decent experience. The food was fine, the company was fun, and the service was pretty damn good considering our large numbers and needy ladies.
(3)
Amanda B.
My family has been eating here since I was a toddler during our first stay in Phoenix, and they still employ our regular waitress from that time period. Los Compadres is missing a lot of things that I associate with great Mexican spots in the valley, including minuscule details such as a lack of hot sauce on the table. Despite that, the chips are fresh (albeit frighteningly bland salsa) and the service stellar. Tortillas: Thumbs down Chips: Thumbs up Salsa: Thumbs down Cheese Crisp: Thumbs up Sopapillas: Thumbs up ...and so it goes. There are significantly superior places you could go, but overall it's a decent family place with great service. I'm tempted to halfway agree with "the Village Inn of Mexican restaurants", but remember that it's Village Inn, not Denny's. 2.5 stars would be fair, and I'll be honest saying that I'm rounding up to 3 purely for nostalgia factor.
(3)
Ann K.
This is one of my favorite Mexican restaurants. We always stop by here on our way back from the airport; it's a family tradition. The chips and salsa are delicious although I have to add a little salt to both. When I used to work near the restaurant I would have lunch at least once a week. David, the owner, was always there to great my party. At lunch the service was really quick. Now that I work on the other side of the valley I don't get by as often, but when I'm on that side of town I always stop by to eat. I love the Tostada Especial with Machaca Beef. Los Compadres is great when you have a large party. They are willing to seat you together and will also divide the bill into separate tickets. When it is a large group they are slower, but they make sure your class is filled and the chips just keep coming. Sometimes I get full from the chips before the food arrives. There is nothing fancy about this place just good home cooked food. A party of two can eat for under $20.00. In this economy that is a fantastic value!
(5)
Eli H.
Oh Los Compadres, the memories we have. I have been going here for about 15 years now and I stopped by again today for my faithful number 7. It is the mini-chimi, cheese enchilada, & beans and of course it was great. The salsa brings back memories of enjoying this restaurant and the atmosphere is business casual. I love coming here on the weekend around 11am to get the brunch specials, I would get the Mexican omelet with beans, potatoes, & tortillas and man is that dish good. The service is usually great, I think I can only recall a few times it was average but never terrible. The prices are very good and usually spend about $10 a person with a drink. The owner is almost always there and very nice. It has become a staple for me my family and even my friends.
(4)
Rob V.
this is the worst place i have ever eaten at. it was like walking in to a old folks home. the only thing that had flavor was my beer and they could not do that right. wast of my money and wast of my time. you are a mexican restaurant why the hell do u have a guy on the piano playing the girl from ipanema?
(1)
Emily C.
ok. so i've been eating at the location on 7th ave my whole life. decided to try the northern location. hmm...upon entry, it looks like it used to be a chinese restaurant. knowing los compadres isn't exactly upscale, the food is what i expected and i love their beans as i always have. the salsa is different than the 7th ave location (at least it seemed to be) and i found that a little disappointing. the service...was less than stupendous. "are you ready?" "do you know what you want?" oh and my favorite..."do you want your check now or what?". not, would you like dessert, are you ready for your check, would you like a box or anything like that. completely rude. so. i'll eat there again, but i'll get it to GO.
(2)
Gene G.
Don't get this place mixed up with the sister establishment on seventh Ave, which is (for some reason) clearly superior. The food is passable. Not the best salsa. But ok. If you have the choice go to the other one.
(3)
Erika Q.
Went there with my husband and 2 kids. We are of Mexican decent and in there all you see is white people. They look at you weird or you catch them looking at you and pretend they weren't. Now for our waitress, I hate when she serves us. She is so snotty and looks at us bad she seems like she has no patience for Hispanic people because once she turns around to a table with white people she is all smiles. I just feel so uncomfortable at that place that every time my husband wants to go I remember her. I gave it a last chance this weekend and still the same. She's a white woman with green or blue eyes and red short hair.. just warning you if your Hispanic and you go there. If you are Anglo she will like you. Now for The food. . Its alright but doesn't have the real Mexican food feeling to it. The rest of the people who work there are nice and give you chips and salsa.. which I do like the salsa! Hope that if you go there you don't feel as uncomfortable as I do in there. The weird part for me is that I feel so uncomfortable in a "Mexican food" and I'm Mexican. To be honest I do not recommend it the food is not worth going through what I did. Sorry Los compadres but I gave you many chances.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Rand H.
Wow, are the ratings all over the map for this one! I liked their other (fast food) location, so I whipped in here to see what IS. Now this is a full service, mid-sized restaurant, & was about half full of a perky lunchtime crowd when I arrived today. It has only tables, no booths, but it was easy to find a comfortable spot to land, & the lighting & temperature inside were right. Soon after being seated, I received a menu, a basket of ok chips, & two small cups of salsa... a mild chunky one, & a medium pureed version. I liked both of them. Eee Gadz!! The prices on the menu are alarmingly high, especially for weekday lunchtime! For example, if you ordered a #10 Combo, consisting of a taco & a tamale, with rice & beans, you are already at $9.25. I like 3 items, so adding a Chile Relleno, for example, at $6.25, brings your lunch price up to FIFTEEN DOLLARS & FIFTY CENTS WITHOUT A DRINK!! (The same thing, for comparison, would be $8.99 at either Macayo's or On the Border in Ahwahtukee, both fancier restaurants in a fancier neighborhood.) :-O ..."and out the door I went!", as George Thorogood once famously said. ...Well, not so fast. A little blue card on the table offers a variety of "Chico" (little boy) specials for $5.75 to $7 something. I ordered a #C, which brought a small beef taco, a cheese enchilada, & a smallish chile verde burro, plus Spanish Rice & refried beans topped with cheese. You know what? THIS order was an excellent value, & so was the taste of all the food, especially the fiesty burro! With the chips it was enough to eat too, so I just have to give these guys 4 Stars based on my dining experience here today. Once you run out of the lunch specials to try though, get ready to pay through the nariz to eat here! #C Lunch Combination Special $6.25 PS: The crowd here was ALL AGES! :-)
(4)Beth K.
Their chips and salsa are delicious! Love their guacamole too! I don't know why they aren't as busy as they used to be. I still enjoy the food, I think it's not as good as it was in the past (like they changed chefs or owners), but it's still tasty. Some of our faves are chimichangas, green tamales, cheese crisp with machaca and their refried beans. It's good stuff and they deserve more business.
(4)Deb L.
A okay for grandma and grandpa ..bring them on in they will love it.."real" Mexican food served old people style. Service is slow but who are we kidding ?Grandma and grandpa aren't hurrying anywhere and they love spending time with you. So take grandma to lunch and treat her to the cheapie lunch special , she will get to try out her Spanish with words like TA-CO and Enchee-La -Da... it will be a memorable moment for you both . Wheelchair accessible and close to Beatitudes nursing home ...make plans to visit your grandparents today.
(2)Kris C.
All I can say is that my hubby (a.k.a. the man who eats to live not lives to eat) RAVED about how good their enchilada sauce was. I think we have found our new favorite go-to mex place. AND, last night was JAZZ NITE...a bit weird ambiance for a Mexican food restaurant but WAY FUN! Can't wait to go back.
(4)Brenda M.
As always the chicken burro with the green corn sauce is the bomb! My spouse loves, loves, loves the green chili beef burro enchilada style. You can't go wrong with any of the cheese crisps!!! Coldest beer and coldest pint glass I have had in the valley. Thank you David. Mary, our server, was awesome too! We live in the neighborhood and have gone here 10+ years.
(5)Marissa B.
I've been here a few times and I love their chips and salas. The chips are extra thin and very crispy. I get salsa and they ask if I want the hot sauce, yes to both. This visit I ordered the Breakfast Burro (Chico Bean Burro topped with green chili beef and egg). First, the side was red potatos with grilled veggies (red bell peppers and onions). The potatos were egh and the veggies tasted like they over did it on the oil. After a few bites of the green chili beef with scrambled egg I pushed it aside and attacked the bean burro. The chili was bland and salt/pepper helped but it just wasn't that great. I was craving the bean burro, so either it was good or I was just satisifying a craving. It was something different but next time I'll stick to the plain bean burro, the beef and chicken tacos are pretty decent (a bit more expensive than I'm used to). Service was attentive: 1. I felt bad that she was very pregnant and I was making her work. Even though I wasn't demanding I felt bad for her feet. LoL Silly I know. And she kept calling me Hun..
(3)Kenda V.
Family owned Mexican joint close to the office. Friendly service, seated me promptly during lunch rush. Very pleasant staff. Nice fresh chips. The standard salsa they bring is OK for your rice & beans but ask for the good stuff (habanero based) they keep in the back, nice scalp tingling affect! I never order specials - the shredded beef tack and bean tostado were quite tasty and had no unpleasant after-effects! Here's the Pizzaz factor for me - on WEDNESDAYS during lunch there is a piano player and his musical offering made a pleasant backdrop to snap you out of the mid-week slump! Just added this to my Lunch date list!
(3)Barbara S.
It never ceases to amaze me that in the competitive restaurant market that exists in the Phoenix metro area, sub-standard restaurants not only exist, but exist for years and years! Such is the case for Los Compadres. We actually ate there eons ago, and recall it being fairly good. But a lot of years and a lot of Mexican food meals have gone by. Fast forward to the present. We found ourselves traveling down Northern (don't ask why) and noticed it was still there. In a weak (dare I say - nostalgia?) moment, we thought: hey, it's dinnertime - let's go to Los Compadres! The neighborhood and strip mall have changed...a lot...over the years. Closed & fenced in former restaurant on the corner, lots of empty storefronts. But, there it is - Los Compadres. And the parking lot was pretty full. Good sign, right? (Maybe the cars were there for the dive bar next door.) We were seated right away, and a nice young man was soon there asking if we'd like anything to drink. Yes, two margaritas please. Chips and salsa followed thereafter - salsa had a good flavor - obviously homemade. The "hot sauce" was not so hot, and not very tasty. We're not afraid of spicy food, so we asked the waiter if he had any Cholula sauce (so we could add some zing to the "hot" sauce.) He said he had Tabasco or habanera sauce. Wow - zero to habanera! Nothing in between! Well, bring on the hot stuff! It came in a bowl (waiter said they don't get much call for it.) We added some to the salsas and they ended up tasting better. The menu is typical of Sonoran-style Mexican fare. We ordered: 2 hard shell tacos - 1 machaca beef, 1 carne asada; 1 chicken burro. We like green chili, but only saw 'green chili & corn' as a topping option. When asked about it, the waiter simply said it was green sauce with corn. Thank you - I think I had figured that out already. So, the burro was ordered 'naked', with the idea of using the salsa on top. When the food came, the poor burro looked so lonely. Sure there was some shredded lettuce on the plate, but not even the standard chopped tomatoes, shredded cheese & olive! One taco arrived; the waiter told us the kitchen mixed up the order & made a flauta instead; they were making the other taco & it should be ready shortly. When it came, it was a soft taco on a flour tortilla. Not worth it to send it back. The burro was stuffed with cheese & very bland chicken. There were quite a few patrons in the restaurant when we arrived so the place is obviously popular. But I am not sure why. The food was underwhelming, the atmosphere is underwhelming, and the location is dodgy. The staff was friendly, though, I'll give them that. Definitely will not return - no matter how reminiscent my mood gets!
(2)A H.
Flew into Phoenix to see family. And on my way home from the airport we stopped here. It's been at least 20 years since I've been here. Though it has been painted and some modern fixtures added, it's the same joint--and that delights me!! Food was fresh, plentiful, and reasonably priced. Our server was diligent and cheerful. The restaurant was clean and bright. My dad and I got to catch up over a nice meal and really enjoyed our visit. Didn't visit the restrooms or the bar, however there was a table-tent on our table speaking about Happy Hour Specials. That's a plus!! Thanks you guys. Hope to make it back sooner!!
(4)Jorge M.
Came to eat lunch. I've been to the 7th ave location. Loved it. Northern location not so great. The albondiga soup didn't have any taste to it had to add salt and pepper to give it flavor and the corn tortillas were micro waved and hard. The chips were good. Will give it another try another day.
(2)Wally S.
I see why this place is not busy. Very bland food and just putting the burro on a hot plate does not make it taste better. Wasted that money.
(1)Gloria S.
Decided to try Los Compadres since they were mentioned in Phoenix Magazine. I don't know who they talked to, but the food was OK. I guess my expectations were higher because of Phoenix Magazine. I had the cheese enchiladas, and there was nothing unique about them. This is Mexican food for non-Mexicans. I give three stars because it was not terrible...but, I can open a can of enchilada sauce and make my own. Sorry.
(3)Stephanie F.
This was one of the first restaurants I visited when I moved to the area. I was very disappointed. I think I would more likely call this "American Mexican" which was not Mexican at all. Everything was al carte. They didn't have "combo" plates, which typically include rice and beans. I had to order them "on the side". But when I got home all I got where my tacos, in like a store bought pre-fab shells, and no rice and beans, even though paid for it.
(1)Susan B.
Tasty, reliable fare at this super clean restaurant. David, the owner, is friendly and approachable. Love the green chili and also the homemade salsa. Salads are a hit also. Nice touch is the occasional piano playing at lunchtime and jazzy sic some nights. Catering is also yummy and super easy.
(5)Markanthony F.
This place is no where near mexican food. Everything seems to be out of the freezer or a can. My entire experience at this restaurant was horrible.
(1)Kate S.
My family and I came here for some comfort food. It had been years since we had been there. The decor, still looks like they are stuck in the 80's. Sadly, we will not be returning ever again. The food was horrible! And not just one dish, all 4 dishes! The green and red chile tasted as if they used an obsessive amount of flour to thicken it. The meat in the machaca burrito was crispy and burnt. I felt so bad for my cousin who tried to eat through it thinking it would get better, he finally gave up. Their rice, tastes like instant rice in the microwave smothered in tomato sauce. Sadly, we had really been looking forward to this visit.
(1)Jonathan J.
My fiancée and I used to come here a lot and the food was good. Must be the gas prices cause the quality and portions have suffered. 5 small strips of steak for fajitas is SAD. Maybe I ordered from the seniors menu. Oh well it looks like I will be stopping by taco bell to fill up. My opinion save yourself the trouble and eat at Taco Bell, at least the value for your money is better.
(2)Kim G.
"Although it is your typical Mexican food they do a good job of making it tasty at good prices. There green burritos are really good."
(4)Annette A.
tasteless... salsa like tomato sauce. Albondigas lacked flavor. Enchiladas were like a quesadilla with tomato sauce. Unsual for this place. It used to be great. Not sure what happened. :(
(2)Laura E.
Careful when you order large. Cause while it says large, what it really means is huge. You won't be able to finish it. I like this place because it's not too fancy and doesn't put on airs. Simple. Plain. Gets the job done.
(3)Lola S.
Been coming here since I was in a high-chair in the 1980's and threw rice on the floor. I'm not in a high chair anymore, but still throw rice on the floor when I get excited. The machacha burro is the best in the valley, IMO. Cheese crisp with chili strips, YUM! Sasparilla bottle to drink with my meal. Free chips with unlimited refills, served with free salsa (mild and hot). Delicious, just stick with the machacha burro! This is a family owned restaurant that employs neighborhood kids. Support local business, this one is great!
(4)Steve R.
BEST MEXICAN FOOD in AZ. Personal favorite: chicken burro enchilada style, no garnish.
(5)Korina A.
Bland, boring, "Mexican-esque" food. Warning sign #1: all white people dining there. Warning sign #2: salsa that's bland as ketchup Warning sign #3: no hot sauces on the table The three of us each had a different item from the lunch specials. Yet our plates looked almost indistinguishable from one another. On each was some configuration of flour tortillas, mountains of shredded iceberg lettuce, and a slick of pale refried beans, all topped with orange cheese. You can get more flavorful "Mexican" food at Del taco. This place is more like Mexican't food. Ulgh. I want my $5.25 back.
(1)Georgia R.
For some reason, I don't think this Los Compadres is as good as the other. This one is a full-service restaurant, so you'd think that fo shiz it would be better than its order at the counter cousin. But not true my friend, not true. The service is fine and the food is really good, but it's missing a little something. That little order-at-the-counter Los Compadres kick if you will. Honestly, it's probably ALL in my head, but if I have the choice, I will pick the 7th Avenue Los over this one any damn day.
(4)Alexander C.
Me and my tummy have a very close relationship. The 2 of us are always in adventure mode, especially around my work zone. My friend Brian also has a very close relationship with his tummy as well though isn't adventurous at all. So when he suggests a place I know that its going to be simple, down home and risk free. So after a brief conversation the 4 of us were off to Los Compadres. We were sat immediately which lucky for us we planned early since this place fills up really fast. Warm chips and 2 kinds of salsa are put in front of you almost as quickly as you are sat. The thinner spicy salsa was the better of the 2, my tummy agreed. While Brian liked the thinner version his tummy was like, oh hell no! Now getting down to business we ordered lunch specials and get this they are 4.95 - 6.95, 11a-3p daily! Talk about dine on a dime, Rachael eat your heart out baby! Ordered a C, taco, enchilada, green burrito with rice and beans. No what Brian order has me stumped. You see we were both distracted by one of the other guests, a very lean and handsome Latino.. so I didn't even pay attention to what Brian ordered.. I think it was an enchilada and taco or something. The food and service here are very fast and friendly. Though Brian said to avoid the bald guy's station that he's not very nice to his guests. Lunch was out in under 10 minutes so we had plenty of time to ogle over the eye candy only 2 tables away. When the food arrived it was piping hot! The portion sizes were generous and the smell was great! I dug right in.. the green chile burro was pretty darn good.. it almost had a creamy quality to the sauce. So I spilled some of the chile onto my tostada and in a couple of crunches had managed to woof the whole thing down. The taco was eh, crunchy but not very flavorful. My tummy was purring as we left.. I could tell our tummies were saying good things about us as well as our eyes. What a feast!
(3)Teresa F.
I agree with the 'Village Inn" of Mexican food statement. I've been to the Northern location three times since being in Phoenix. Nico practically grew up here: him and his family have been coming for years and he even worked here in high school. I get the whole nostalgic thing. I've had the taco salad (unseasoned ground beef, yuck), chicken and cheese enchilada (decent, but nothing too fabulous) and the cheese crisp (very good, but could use some mexi seasoning). Chips and salsa are so-so, but again nothing to rave about. Margaritas are also just okay. What makes the place charming is the service. Nico knows them all and we get top notch service every time. The decor doesn't scream Mexico and I like that. I know we will continue to visit Los Compadres, especially when Nico's mom is in town, I will just keep trying new dishes until I find my favorite. I will also try the 7th Ave location as it seems to get better reviews.
(3)Lesa C.
Never again! Bland, boring, cafeteria style food. The beans tasted stale. The machaca beef in the taco was dry and tasteless. The rice has NO flavor. The only thing that was remotely good was the tortilla around the "red" burro which consisted of stew meat and beans. Nothing "red" about it. I requested the hot salsa to pour over everything just so it would taste like SOMETHING. Decor and customers are circa 1965. It was at least clean.
(2)Bri D.
Today is Administrative Assistant's Day, YAY, so our school's parent club took us all out to lunch here. There were about 20 ladies all together and we arrived pretty much the second they opened. They had a table all set up for us and ready to go. We were immediately brought chips and salsa. The chips were very plain, but I kept eating them. Our bowls of chips were never empty. We only had one girl taking care of our whole table, but after a couple rounds of refilled sodas she seemed to be getting the hang of it. We kept her pretty busy but she handled it well. The kitchen however, had a little difficulty and there was about a 15 minute difference between the time the first person was served and the last person. Oh well, we all got our food and it was all correct. I ordered the cheese enchilada and chimichanga (a mini one) combination plate. The beans that came with the dish were sprinkled with cheese and very tasty. They were surprisingly smooth and buttery, I'm not really picky about the beans. The enchilada was a big fat disappointment to me because there were onions inside. I thought it would just have cheese, because everywhere else I have gone and gotten a cheese enchilada it was just plain inside. The chimichanga was actually really good to my picky palate. The shredded beef was flavorful and juicy. It was also covered in cheese, and that is always a good thing in book. I could also do without the shredded lettuce on my plate. I'm not sure what purpose it served. Overall, it was a pretty decent experience. The food was fine, the company was fun, and the service was pretty damn good considering our large numbers and needy ladies.
(3)Amanda B.
My family has been eating here since I was a toddler during our first stay in Phoenix, and they still employ our regular waitress from that time period. Los Compadres is missing a lot of things that I associate with great Mexican spots in the valley, including minuscule details such as a lack of hot sauce on the table. Despite that, the chips are fresh (albeit frighteningly bland salsa) and the service stellar. Tortillas: Thumbs down Chips: Thumbs up Salsa: Thumbs down Cheese Crisp: Thumbs up Sopapillas: Thumbs up ...and so it goes. There are significantly superior places you could go, but overall it's a decent family place with great service. I'm tempted to halfway agree with "the Village Inn of Mexican restaurants", but remember that it's Village Inn, not Denny's. 2.5 stars would be fair, and I'll be honest saying that I'm rounding up to 3 purely for nostalgia factor.
(3)Ann K.
This is one of my favorite Mexican restaurants. We always stop by here on our way back from the airport; it's a family tradition. The chips and salsa are delicious although I have to add a little salt to both. When I used to work near the restaurant I would have lunch at least once a week. David, the owner, was always there to great my party. At lunch the service was really quick. Now that I work on the other side of the valley I don't get by as often, but when I'm on that side of town I always stop by to eat. I love the Tostada Especial with Machaca Beef. Los Compadres is great when you have a large party. They are willing to seat you together and will also divide the bill into separate tickets. When it is a large group they are slower, but they make sure your class is filled and the chips just keep coming. Sometimes I get full from the chips before the food arrives. There is nothing fancy about this place just good home cooked food. A party of two can eat for under $20.00. In this economy that is a fantastic value!
(5)Eli H.
Oh Los Compadres, the memories we have. I have been going here for about 15 years now and I stopped by again today for my faithful number 7. It is the mini-chimi, cheese enchilada, & beans and of course it was great. The salsa brings back memories of enjoying this restaurant and the atmosphere is business casual. I love coming here on the weekend around 11am to get the brunch specials, I would get the Mexican omelet with beans, potatoes, & tortillas and man is that dish good. The service is usually great, I think I can only recall a few times it was average but never terrible. The prices are very good and usually spend about $10 a person with a drink. The owner is almost always there and very nice. It has become a staple for me my family and even my friends.
(4)Rob V.
this is the worst place i have ever eaten at. it was like walking in to a old folks home. the only thing that had flavor was my beer and they could not do that right. wast of my money and wast of my time. you are a mexican restaurant why the hell do u have a guy on the piano playing the girl from ipanema?
(1)Emily C.
ok. so i've been eating at the location on 7th ave my whole life. decided to try the northern location. hmm...upon entry, it looks like it used to be a chinese restaurant. knowing los compadres isn't exactly upscale, the food is what i expected and i love their beans as i always have. the salsa is different than the 7th ave location (at least it seemed to be) and i found that a little disappointing. the service...was less than stupendous. "are you ready?" "do you know what you want?" oh and my favorite..."do you want your check now or what?". not, would you like dessert, are you ready for your check, would you like a box or anything like that. completely rude. so. i'll eat there again, but i'll get it to GO.
(2)Gene G.
Don't get this place mixed up with the sister establishment on seventh Ave, which is (for some reason) clearly superior. The food is passable. Not the best salsa. But ok. If you have the choice go to the other one.
(3)Erika Q.
Went there with my husband and 2 kids. We are of Mexican decent and in there all you see is white people. They look at you weird or you catch them looking at you and pretend they weren't. Now for our waitress, I hate when she serves us. She is so snotty and looks at us bad she seems like she has no patience for Hispanic people because once she turns around to a table with white people she is all smiles. I just feel so uncomfortable at that place that every time my husband wants to go I remember her. I gave it a last chance this weekend and still the same. She's a white woman with green or blue eyes and red short hair.. just warning you if your Hispanic and you go there. If you are Anglo she will like you. Now for The food. . Its alright but doesn't have the real Mexican food feeling to it. The rest of the people who work there are nice and give you chips and salsa.. which I do like the salsa! Hope that if you go there you don't feel as uncomfortable as I do in there. The weird part for me is that I feel so uncomfortable in a "Mexican food" and I'm Mexican. To be honest I do not recommend it the food is not worth going through what I did. Sorry Los compadres but I gave you many chances.
(1)Brian G.
The Village Inn of Mexican restaurants.
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