Taqueria El Cometa — Restaurant in El Paso

As Authentic as You Can Get We were road tripping and got into El Paso about 9:00 pm. We were famished and really wanted some authentic Mexican food. This might have been the only place open. And they're open from 10:00 am to 4:00 am! This place is located just a few blocks away from the border, right off of Hwy 10 on Viscount Blvd. We pulled up and it was packed with diners. Young and old, individuals and couples, and quite a few children. The menu selections are on the wall above and behind the counter. There are pictures of the items, but they all basically look the same. No real descriptions. The counter help was friendly, but very English language limited. I asked a few questions and I don't think they understood me. Orders are placed and paid for at the counter. You're given a stand with a number to take to your table and staff brings out the order. As we sat waiting we watched the activity in the dining area where diners were getting condiments from what may have been a small salad bar in the past. I had to check it out. This was incredible. Fresh cilantro, diced onions, radishes, grilled whole jalapenos, limes, red and green salsas, pico de gallo, sliced cucumbers, shredded lettuce and my favorite - a creamy smooth guacamole sauce/salsa. It had the flavor of traditional chunky guac, but smooth and the consistency of a thick gravy. Small plastic cups and paper boats are on the bar so you can take as much as you like back to your table. Our food was brought to us in just a few minutes. I ordered a Burrita ($10.43), two flour tortillas sandwiched together stuffed with seasoned grilled beef and cheese. I loaded up by Burrita with all the 'salad bar' fixin's and sauces and thoroughly enjoyed my dish. My wife ordered Tacos Al Pastor ($9.96), four tacos built on four flour tortillas with mounds of flavorful Al Pastor Pork, topped with fresh cilantro and diced onion. She used the guacamole sauce to add even more flavor to her tacos. The staff in the dining room never quit moving. They cleared off empty tables, kept the floor and salad bar area neat and tidy, and while a little hard to understand, asked if we needed anything else. There was a steady stream of customers coming in still at 10:00 or so when we left. This is a gem that deserves your visit and your taste buds...

Taqueria El Cometa is a local Mexican eatery, with several locations throughout El Paso. I arrived at the North Mesa Street branch on a Thursday afternoon just after 3 p.m., seeking to escape the triple digit heat.

Although Taqueria El Cometa can be classified as a fast food joint, the food is fresh and delicious. The staff is friendly and the service is fairly quick. As you enter, you’ll find a counter to the left where you order your food and beverage. To the right is an open dining area and a salsa bar,, with doors leading to an outdoor patio.

The menu is your typical Mexican fare: tacos, quesadillas, burritos, flautas, taquitos, etc. Once seated, we were served a basket of tortilla chips. I went to the salsa bar and dished out some green pepper salsa, as well as some very spicy chile de arbol salsa. After a few minutes of enjoying the appetizer, I was served the tacos de alambre al pastor and an horchata. The dish consisted of marinated pork, with California chiles, and queso. The dish also came with approximately six flour tortillas. The horchata was smooth, sweet and refreshing.

The meal was packed with flavor and very enjoyable. One can fill the tortillas to the limit, and still have enough left over to use as a dip for the tortilla chips. I savored every bite.

There are so many Mexican restaurants in El Paso that one can eat at a different one daily for a year and still have plenty remaining. However, Taqueria El Cometa can easily stand out as one of the...

Dry Flautas!!

​Came here for my friend's white coat ceremony, and the one thing I was excited about was trying some authentic El Paso Mexican food. Unfortunately, Google Maps led me to what must be the worst option in town.

​We heard the flautas were their specialty, so my husband and I ordered the chicken and beef. They were so dry and hard, we barely ate any of them. It felt like the meat had been sitting out all day. The salsa bar was a total mess, and the salsas themselves were bland and tasteless. Not a single one had any flavor. ​I thought my favorite drink, horchata, would save the meal, but I was wrong. It tasted like it was watered down and barely sweetened, definitely not made from scratch. It was a huge disappointment.

​The tortilla chips were also a miss, seeming like they were recycled and re-fried because they were burnt and way too thick. The only good thing about this place was our server, who was very nice. I gave them two stars just for her, but I won't be back. I really hope the next place we try has...