First time here. Sooooo good! I am from Mexico and it felt like I was eating at home. But besides being authentic Mexican, the food is great and the portions are generous. read more

Cookeville, Tn. This is by far one of the best quick meals located right off the Interstate. It really feels authentic and, actually, it is. The people here are really nice and ready to help in any way. Our carnitas tacos featured the crispy style of carnitas which are what, to me, the way they should be. The tacos were very good. Not your high end stellar kind, just basic ol' good Mexican style. They are only four inch diameter tortillas, and this is clearly stated on the menu. However, they are only a couple bucks each and are filled up pretty good. The seating area is clean and comfortable if you eat here. The Aqua Fresca was pretty sweet, the ice needs to melt to make it palatable. Even then it's pretty strong. There is a rather extensive assortment of item on the menu including the odd ones (To Me), such as lingua, tripa, and much more. read more

My husband and I shared the carne asada burrito it was big but it was very Dry , I was hoping for a more Mexican flavored burrito maybe even little spicy but I can say it was big and we also got some cheap carne tacos for $ 2.50 . but again it was not flavorful, maybe i will try one more time before we move out back Utah area, read more

El Compa Tacos - Carne asada taco - Tacos Near Me - Cookeville, Tennessee

This is truly the best place to eat Mexican food. Anyone who knows what the food should taste like would love this beautiful restaurant. The staff are so kind as well. read more

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The tacos are very good and fresh. Lots of different sauces to choose from. Lots of variety in the meat for the tacos. You order at the counter and they bring to table. We were there at 12:40pm and the place was packed with mostly Hispanic people- great sign of great tacos! There were upright coolers for drinks or beer. The ambiance was like stepping into a small cafe along the Mexico border. I've never had tacos so authentic east of El Paso, let alone in TN. read more

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Never a bad time when I eat here. I make it a point to stop in when im in town. My eyes were bigger than my stomach, and I ordered 2 Sopes,they are a very generous size! Always have to grab the Habanero Salsa, also soo good and love the heat. read more

El Compa Tacos - Chorizo Sope - Tacos Near Me - Cookeville, Tennessee

What a great place! Food is great and the workers are always kind. Depending on the lunch crowd it can take a minute to get your food out but the people make it even more welcoming inside! The decor, authentic candy and snacks make it welcoming! My only complaint is that it is a little pricey compared to everyone else in town. No free chips and salsa!!! read more

El Compa Tacos - The Valentine Taco Heart - Tacos Near Me - Cookeville, Tennessee

One of my business partners told me to meet him here for lunch, and I am glad I did. Probably one of the best Shrimp street tacos I ever tried. The sauces they have to go with the tacos are also incredible. I believe this will be my go to lunch spot when I visit Cookeville every few months. read more

My food was ready at the time it promised, and it was delicious! This is our go-to street taco spot in town read more

El Compa Tacos - Carne asada tacos + chicken tacos with a side of Mexican rice| Arroz and beans - Tacos Near Me - Cookeville, Tennessee

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Food is authentic and delicious! Made fresh to order! The employees were so incredible too! Cannot wait to return. Some say they are pricey-I say you get what you pay for which is worth every dime! read more

Absolutely delish!! My third time here today and I made my husband finally try it. AMAZING!! I got the barbacoa burrito and he got several different tacos. Everything was absolutely scrumptious including the super fresh, yummy guac!! Prices are reasonable and the workers are so sweet. Can't wait to go back! read more

El Compa Tacos - Tacos Near Me - Cookeville, Tennessee

Good quality food, great flavor. Good salsa too! ( not the standard local ketchup). Had the carnitas and asada tacos. Good friendly atmosphere. read more

Wife and I came here visiting from Georgia. Don't let the shell station fool you. The Mexican restaurant next store is the best mexican food I had anywhere in the US. Service is slightly slow but everything is cooked to order. We'll worth the wait. This isnt fast food. Check it out, you will love it. read more

Lived in El Paso. Las Cruces , and California. Feel like I have a pretty good handle on what a taco should be. This place is the real deal. Trust me. Cheap and delicious. Get the Lengua tacos!!! read more

El Compa Tacos - Tacos!!! - Tacos Near Me - Cookeville, Tennessee

Authentic. That's all I have to say the food is authentic. The cashier was sweet and had a little bit of a hard time understanding what I was saying but that's just proof it's authentic Mexican. The service is pretty good it takes a minute for your food to get out but for it being freshly cooked it's 100% worth it. The whole place just screams "AMAZING MEXICAN FOOD" due to its Mexican setting in the room. The $2.00 tacos are amazing ( be aware they are small street tacos). And the $8.00 burrito makes my hairs stand up it's so good. They have amazing tamales as well! If you check their facebook they have deals on certain days and menu specials. read more

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I have spent the last 30 years trying small taco is all over Southern California, and I have my favorites there. I was worried that I wouldn't find a very good place in Cookeville, but this place is right up there with the best. It's completely identical to a SoCal Taqueria (my other local favorite is El Milagro, but that's more of a sit down dinner type of place). I placed my order, and the guy warned me that it was probably gonna be 20 to 25 minutes, somebody right before me placed a huge carry out order of probably 10 to 15 plates, but my food came out right after that. The guy that brought my food out was very apologetic for the long wait, and even brought me out a free Mineragua to make up for it! Great food, affordable, and great customer service. Don't let the gas station deter you, the place is pretty nice inside there.! Gracias El Compa! read more

Good food with fair prices!!! Seemed fresh... Friendly staff.... The floors were very dirty but to be fair it was after lunch and probably a lot of the crew working on the roads had eaten there for lunch... read more

Really liked this place! Great service, fast, and delicious. Very clean and many different options to choose from! Everything authentic! Only reason I didn't give 5 starts is because of the location! read more

El Compa Tacos - Tacos Near Me - Cookeville, Tennessee

This place is super authentic. I loved the food quality and how fresh everything was. The location is very convenient for travelers. (Next to interstate in Gas Station) read more

We've lived in Cookeville 20 years and have been awaiting authentic tacos (not buried in cheese and stuffed with ground beef). They are here! Also, great tacitos, soup, etc. We order on the phone and get takeout from the window. If you are put off by a Mexican restaurant at a gas station, you'll probably want more cheese. This is legit' read more

La única razón por la cual no daré 5 estrellas es porque se pasan de madres con el aguacate!! Cobran 2.50 por cada taco que quieras ponerle aguacate so si ordeno 6 tacos y quiero aguacate me cobran $15! Pa la otra traigo mis propios aguacates. pero nada aparte de eso los tacos y las salsas estuvieron deliciosos! Cuando vi que la cocinera era mujer supe que la comida estaría rica. Unos de los mejores lugares en Cookeville. read more

You won't find fresher or more authentic Mexican cuisine anywhere in the Upper Cumberland! El Compa is our weekly go-to, and we have been highly satisfied with the quality of every meal whether dine-in or carryout. The tacos, tortas, nachos, burritos, carna asada dinner, and taco salad are all tried and true. The staff members and owners are pleasant and make you feel right at home. This establishment is very accommodating to diet-specific or special requests regarding the menu. El Compa serves the freshest ingredients and the portion sizes are plentiful- you won't leave hungry and will likely have leftovers. The prices are very reasonable. I wish that I could leave more than five-stars! read more

Best Hispanic food in Cookeville but admittedly the bar isn't very high. Very sporadic in quality. Keep an eye out for a precious elderly lady in the kitchen. She is a blessing both in the kitchen and as a person! read more

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Excellent as always. Service is always friendly and quick. Food is unbelievably good. read more

El Compa Tacos - Chicken taco salad - Tacos Near Me - Cookeville, Tennessee

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So far the best Mexican food in Tennessee. I've only been once and I'm hoping they're just as good the next time. I was born and raised in San Diego and this food is here is excellent. read more

Update: The Burritos are freaking Awesome! I got Barbacoa(Marinated Steak) and my son got the Pollo(Chicken) we both loved them! My wife got 2 Tacos, a Carnitas(Marinated Pulled Pork) and a Pollo(Chicken). She loved both of them! We all liked the Green Salsa(I think it had Avacodo in it and I don't like Avocado but it tasted so good it didn't matter) I really like the Red Salsa(It's got some heat but good flavor) My wife and son thought it was too spicy but I thought it was a good balance of heat and flavor. read more

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It saddens me to make this review, because their food used to be amazing. However, the last three times I've eaten there, it has went steadily down hill. Today's experience was the last straw. The salsa that's served with the tortilla chips was awful! It looked like diluted tomato paste and that's pretty much what it tasted like too. It was inedible! The guacamole was mostly onions and cilantro with a dash of avocado. I got three different tacos, all of them were very dry and contained such a small amount of meat that it was laughable. There has definitely been a change in who's running the kitchen, or they are trying to cut cost and improve their profit margin. But all they did was lose my business for good! read more

Great food great service! Doesn't look like much from the outside but when you go in it's clean and staff is friendly and the food was great! Prob the best chimichanga I've ever had in cookeville. read more

I recently moved back to Tennessee after nearly 30 years in San Antonio, TX. I knew moving here that the days of great Mexican and Tex-Mex were over for me, or so I thought. After trying pretty much every place in Cookeville and the surrounding area, I heard about this little Taco place in a gas station, El Compa Tacos. Walking in and looking at the menu, I got pretty excited to see things like Lengua, Barbacoa, Tripas, My first order was two Barbacoa and two Lengua on flour with their salsa especial. They were awesome!! Now, their Barbacoa is not really the San Antonio tex-mex style, the Cabeza is much closer, but both are excellent. So far, I have tried quiite a few of the menu items, and have been very happy with them all. If I had one wish, it would be for them to start doing breakfast. Breakfast tacos, Migas, Chilaquiles... we do all of that at home, but it would be great to be able to swing by and grab something in the mornings. By the way, we just moved to a new place and now we are in walking distance, and I will need that walk if I keep eating their tacos and excellent Queso and Chips. Excelente trabajo El Compa Tacos! read more

Amazing tacos!!! Would definitely look for this exit again just to eat here. The cheese dip was good too. But very strange that I had to order the chips separately. Their homemade hot sauces are fantastic. We had the salsa especial and the salsa habanero. read more

This place has the freshest ingredients. All their food is made to order. I'm needing to avoid wheat so I asked if they could make me a burrito without the tortilla and that's what they did. I got such a big meal too. Freshly grilled chicken done just right. I highly recommend them. We visited during the corona virus issues. They served us by a telephone order served thru their drive thru. read more

El Compa Tacos - Naked burrito. Which is not actually on the menu but they made it for me anyways since I need to avoid wheat. - Tacos Near Me - Cookeville, Tennessee

Legit Mexican food. I mean literally the best I've had since being in Mexico. The salsas are all hand made. The food is so fresh. I come to Cookeville once every two months. It will be on the schedule every trip from now on. read more

I'm from California (there's a good sign I know what I'm talking about when it comes to Mexican food). I'm not going to lie I was hesitant about eating Mexican food in Tennessee. I was recommended this place and I have to say that there street tacos are pretty darn good! read more

Best street tacos around! Really good carne asada and carnitas! A variety of salsa. I would highly recommend them!

El Compa is my absolute favorite Mexican restaurant in Cookeville. If you're looking for AUTHENTIC Mexican food, this is the spot! Super fresh ingredients, wonderful staff, and great food! read more

This place does not look like much but I am telling you the food is delicious 100% homemade!! This place is worth the stop!!

Authentic and delicious tacos! I had the steak and chicken tacos with salsa verde with a sweet tea for under $5. I recommend!

Absolutely the best and cheapest Mexican food in the Upper Cumberland right now. Amazing street tacos with lots of authentic foods aswell. A definite must try. Oh and before you ask no there is no chicken cheese and rice try something new for once y'all! read more

Excellent food! Great service. The burrito was so big I shared it with a friend. So yummy! They're following social distancing guidelines, and are very nice people to talk to. Give it a try. read more