Let’s get this fiesta started.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhen Tacos El Gordo closed, the interior was stripped to the bones, and owners of the restaurant said it would not be back. Thankfully, hatchets were buried, amends were made and one of the most popular Mexican restaurants in Las Vegas is back in business.<\/p>\nWe don’t know who this Al Pastor guy his, but he makes some delicious meat on a vertical rotisserie called a “trompo,” or “spinning top.” Good work, Al!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nBecause word hasn’t really gotten out about the re-opening of Tacos El Gordo, lines are unusually short. That will change dramatically, possibly by the time you finish reading this sentence.<\/p>\nA first at Tacos El Gordo. Enjoy it while it lasts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nTo honor the return of the much-buzzed-about restaurant, we dined there for the first time, and are pleased to say Tacos El Gordo’s reputation is well-deserved.<\/p>\n
As the name Tacos El Gordo suggests, the menu is taco-centric, with most offerings in the $2 range.<\/p>\nJust save some time and order one of everything.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe meats (mainly beef and pork) are all absolutely succulent. We honestly had no idea what to order, so we let the friendly folks behind the counter decide, and everything exceeded all expectations.<\/p>\n
Before it closed, Tacos El Gordo had a bit of a reputation for being illogically laid out, and that remains unchanged in the new iteration. First, guests order at different parts of the counter based upon which meats they’d like.<\/p>\n
Then, once the food is prepared, customers take their food to a cashier on the other side of the restaurant to pay. On a busy day, which we expect will be every day once word of the opening spreads, this could lead to some frustration, but the food overshadows any logistical challenges.<\/p>\nYou don’t judge their ordering process and they won’t judge your pronunciation of “pague en la caja.”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe meats are carved or chopped to-order, and the toppings (white onion, cilantro and a green sauce, pictured below) are excellent. The flavors—spicy, savory and sweet—dance across one’s tongue like the graceful arcs of water at the Bellagio fountains. Or something.<\/p>\n
If you’re unsure what to include or exclude in your taco, defer to the staff, many of whom appear to be actual Mexicans, which is sort of a plus in a taco joint.<\/p>\n
The menu also includes things like Vampiro, Sopes, Mulas and several other words we didn’t recognize. That said, we look forward to trying everything on the menu based on the unforgettable tacos.<\/p>\nAfter trying this beef taco, we went back for more, mainly to annoy Donald Trump.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nTacos El Gordo features an interesting, although fairly baffling, lime and radish bar. No, really. We asked what that’s all about, and a cashier let us know sometimes people like radishes. And lime sometimes cuts the heat of the spices in certain flavored meats.<\/p>\nRadishes are related to wasabi, and a cup of radishes has a mere 19 calories.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWith the return of Tacos El Gordo to its former location, the restaurant is sure to regain its reputation as the must-try place for cheap eats on the Las Vegas Strip.<\/p>\n
Gracias por regresar, Tacos El Gordo! Unless the Internet translated that incorrectly, then nevermindo.<\/p>\n