What: Ramen birria
Where: El Compaye Tacos and Beer, 35325 Date Palm Drive, No.121, Cathedral City
How much: $15.99
Contact: 760-699-5122; orderelcompayetacosbeer.com
Why: It’s simple but tasty.
Not too long ago, I read about birria ramen in an article of some sort—and I was intrigued.
I love birria. Ramen is fantastic. Birria ramen should therefore be amazing, right?
On a recent dinner visit to El Compaye Tacos and Beer, I noticed the menu includes birria ramen (or, as it’s listed, ramen birria)—so I had to try it. Or did I? While El Compaye offers a wide variety of Mexican food, including the ramen birria, “tacos” is in the name of the place. My dining companions were therefore ordering tacos—shrimp tacos for the hubby ($16 for a plate), while my friend Jeffrey got an asada taco and a chorizo taco ($2.99 each). So would it be a mistake to order the ramen birria?
I ordered it—and it was not a mistake.
If you’re expecting the ramen accoutrements one usually gets at a standard ramen restaurant, revise your expectations: You’ll get birria, ramen and a meaty, oily broth in a bowl, with a plate of chopped onion and cilantro on the side. That’s it. They key to the dish, I soon learned, is that plate of chopped onion and cilantro: When added to the bowl, they give the dish much-needed freshness and texture. I enjoyed the ramen birria thoroughly.
But will I order it on my next visit to El Compaye? Probably not. I’ll definitely get it again at some point, but the tacos looked spectacular—and they were apparently delicious. This is not a surprise; “tacos” is part of the restaurant’s name.
they have a heck of a burrito too