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El Comal
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
18 reviews for El Comal
Review Highlights
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"...can load up on cheap, delicious, homemade corn tortillas." In 3 reviews -
"A Mexican drink, a fresh homemade salsa, and some of their..." In 3 reviews -
"I added some of my tomatillo salsa to the tacos." In 4 reviews
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18 reviews in English
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Review from Marie G.
Burnaby, BC
1/21/2012
We discovered this place a month ago and have been back 3 times since. Who knew this wonderful little secret was tucked into such an odd neighbourhood.
I usually order the Tortilla Soup and it's superb. Broth is full of flavour -- I wish I could do that at home. The soup is served with little bowls of enhancements on the side (sour cream, some cheese and some pork rind things). Fresh avocado on top, tortilla strips throughout the bowl -- mmmm, the perfect treat on a cold winter day like today.
We bought 4 different kinds of salsa last weekend and have worked through most of them already. They are tangy, fresh and perfect. Yum. Now I need to start exploring all of the cheeses I see in the display case.
The woman who owns this place is a lovely lady. Friendly to all and pleasant to chat with.
I wish I worked in this area so I could go here every day for lunch. -
Review from Zee K.
Vancouver, BC
4/21/2012
Came here for lunch with friends and it is good! Small menu of 8 choices total plus specials. My friends had the burrito and I had the sopes, 3 was about ten dollars. Fairly priced but probably not as good of a deal as the burritos. They also have tamales available for takeout (only place I've seen in the Lower Mainland.)
Great if you're in the area but not positive I'd make a special out of the way trip, especially with the recent increase in tasty Mexican places in town. -
Review from Michael P.
Burnaby, BC
3/14/2012 2 Check-ins Here
If there's one thing I love to support, it's small businesses!
El Comal is literally a hole in the wall - a small Mexican goods store in an industrial block with an incorporated deli and seating area. Don't be so quick to judge, however, because their Mexican food is authentic and convincingly delicious!
I've been here on two occasions and not once have I been disappointed.
I am aspiring to tackle their entire menu, but so far, I've only tried the Chile Relleno (roasted poblano pepper stuffed with cheese, lightly battered & baked in a tomato sauce, rice and beans) - vegetarian friendly - and also the Enchiladas with chorizo (stuffed corn tortillas smothered with enchiladad sauce, cheese , cream, rice & beans).
What's great about this place is its authenticity, selections of Mexican goods (thank you for having lime flavoured jarritos and green habanero pepper sauce!) and their efficient service.
I should also mention that vegetarian options are available and parking is a private lot out front. Cheers! -
Review from Andres D.
Langley, BC
3/20/2012
I may not be Mexican but my wife is, and I know Mexican food having lived in Mexico for over a year. This is the best Mexican food in all of Lower Mainland without a doubt. I have tried them all and no one comes close to Elsa's carnitas. The pozole and carnitas and birria are to die for. Trust me this place is a hidden gem and once you try it, I guarantee you will be back again and again. Saturday is when they have the Carnitas. She just recently expanded so now has more seating. Be patient as service can be a tad slow but so worth the wait. I ask my wife to go every weekend but she only lets us go every few weeks. It is like being in Mexico when you eat her Carnitas.
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Review from Kat S.
10/21/2011
Holy guacamole. A solid 4.5 stars.
If you manage to find this place, you'll notice that lunch time is super busy and it is packed with all the local workers in the industrial area off Wilson.
I knew this place was something special when I started noticing that many of the customers were Mexican and were speaking Spanish. That's a good sign. There are obviously lots of regulars that visit the restaurant, too.
I have tried the tacos and the burrito. The flavours are good, the veggie burrito has lots of fillings like zucchini, corn and peppers, so it isn't just a burrito minus the meat. he burritos are giant, so come with a big appetite.
I also had the chicken (done in a tinga style) and chorizo tacos, which were delicious, but like other reviews have mentioned, the corn tortillas fall apart and you can't eat the tacos with your hands. I was disappointed with that. A double wrap would do well. The corn tortillas themselves are good, but I was expecting more corn flavour, the same as Marc mentioned. I did enjoy the opportunity to purchase the tortillas which are made fresh there.
They serve chips and salsa if you eat in and the staff are very friendly and kind. There's a bunch of Mexican products for sale, and pre-made tamales and other delights in the deli case. -
Review from Marje B.
Burnaby, BC
Went here for lunch, I've been wanting to try it due to the good reviews.
Its tacked in a very industrial area. ONLY a small eating area. Great for take out.
Food is great and very authentic. I love Mexican food, and this place hits the spot!
My friend ordered soft tacos combo tasted fresh the tortillas was nice! beans, rice was also yummy! I had Chicken Enchiladas combo, really good flavours! I like things more on the spicy side so I just added some hot sauce. We also started with a free bowl of chips and salsa (fresh and delis). They also carry food to cook at home and great Mexican delights!
Cost was pretty reasonable!
I will be BACK! -
Review from Freda W.
Vancouver, BC
11/23/2011
Ai carrumba! Tamales de puerco eres mi corazon...
If you ever come here. Get yourself some tamales. The best I have ever had! It's not fancy, but who cares. We are here for the food! -
Review from Dylan P.
Burnaby, BC
12/4/2011
Who knew you would find Burnaby's best Mexican on the Winston Slip?
This place is a total hidden gem. I've passed by countless times assuming, because it's a textiles district, that it's a foods wholesaler.
I was wrong. This place is some serious, delicious, authentic Mexican food.
Had the veggie enchiladas (8 bux for 3, rice and beans) and it was terrific. Everything was fresh and delicious. The beans, usually a bland mess, are so tasty.
They also sell reasonably priced mexican cheeses like Oaxaca, and Queso Fresco. You can load up on cheap, delicious, homemade corn tortillas. You can stock your cupboards with jalapenos in adobo sauce (for your chipotle puree) this place has got it all, and it's all priced very well.
El Comal is awesome, I will return soon for more enchiladas and lime Jarritos. -
Review from Michelle L.
Burnaby, BC
1/31/2012
Finally, great Mexican food in BC!!! Had their chorizo and beef taco and chili rellano. They were all delicious. Yumm!
Great friendly service, but a hard location to find. Google map it before you go! -
Review from Justina B.
Burnaby, BC
1/2/2012 2 photos
this place is great. i moved to the vancouver area from new york where it's pretty easy to find mexican cuisine, and i always crave it. when me and my boyfriend went in, the lady behind the counter was unbelievably nice, took our order, and told us to sit in the dining area. unfortunately it was freezing in there (no heating?) but she apologized for that. i'm not too picky because once i start eating i'm fine. my boyfriend got the chille relleno and i got the sopes. she asked if i wanted them fried or steamed and i went with steamed. i tried a bit of my boyfriend's chile and it was amazing. he enjoyed it as well as the rice and the refried beans that come with it. my sopes had lettuce, refried beans, shredded pork, salsa, cheese, and a slice of avocado on top which gave it a fresh taste.
overall, i love this place and will come back. the price is great for how much you get, and the free salsa that comes with the meal is amazing. next time,i want to buy it and bring it home to eat with chips. -
Review from Dominique W.
Burnaby, BC
6/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good Mexican food in Canada was something I'd never find, but thanks to my fellow yelpers I found it 5 minutes from home!
This place is a life saver. -
Review from Doug G.
Heaven off the beaten path
You will need persistence to get there. A GPS might help. El Comal is not really a restaurant, it's a plant where they make some of the best corn tortillas north of Mexico. But they do have a small deli, with extremely limited seating, and exceptional food.
Saturday afternoon, and the the parking lot of the business park was empty except for the packed spaces near El Comal. There was a line up on Saturday afternoon, and believe me this place is nowhere close to any residential area or open businesses. Everyone here has come for one reason - the best Mexican food in Vancouver.
The deli is cramped. Filled with customers all speaking Spanish. Families with children. Elderly couples. I was impressed. We finally got to the front of the line and ordered. We asked for Chile Relleno and Carnitas. We managed to find a table and waited.
Shortly afterwards, our meals arrived. Huge plates of familiar fare. Now I'm in no position to know whether the Chile Relleno is authentic or not, but my husband who grew up in Mexico repeated several times "This is just like it is at home!" He loved it, and that's high praise as he is hard to impress.
Chile Relleno is "stuffed chile" - a dish that originated in the city of Puebla. A roasted poblano pepper (a very mild chili pepper), stuffed with melted cheese, delicately seasoned and served in a tomato sauce. It was delicious, although not warmed quite enough. Definitely the best I've tasted in Vancouver. We also tried the "Carnitas", a succulent braised pork dish, also very typical of central Mexico. Again, delicious and the best I've had in Canada.
Now in the interest of full disclosure. After we had finished our meal, the owner came out to say hello, and as she was talking with my husband, they realized that their two families were from the same city in Mexico, and that their families had known each other since he was a boy. They spent a long time catching up, and in the end she did not charge us for our meals. I tell you that simply because I think it's necessary to point that out as some could claim it influenced my review. I intended to give El Comal a 5 star rating long before we realized that the two families knew each other and before we found out she was comping the meal.
I would recommend El Comal for take-out as the food is phenonemal. Hands down the best in town. As a sit-down venu, well it's cramped, and probably won't be a favorite. -
Review from Marc D.
Vancouver, BC
8/4/2010
* Thanks, Peter! *
Ok, Peter S. reviewed this spot and I had to run right over to check it out.
Basically they are a tortilla maker that also has a small lunch counter with a few tables.
I ordered a taco plate to sample the tortillas in their purest form. It comes with 3 soft tacos, rice, and beans.
First the good:
1) The tortillas were nice and fresh
2) Very friendly service
3) The cochinita pibil was nice and tender and well seasoned
4) The beef was the stewed variety and was tender
5) The chicken was the stewed variety and was tender
6) The horchata was not overly sweet and nicely spiced
7) Reasonable pricing of $2/taco or $7.95 for 3 tacos with rice and beans. $2 for horchata. Apparently all prices include all taxes.
8) The highlight was the spicy salsa which was provided as an extra condiment in addition the fresh salsa which came with some chips. The spicy salsa had a truly pleasant smokiness blended with a nice heat. Delicious. Each of the tacos improved dramatically with this spicy salsa.
The "I wish they would improve":
1) The tortillas were served room temp instead of having been heated up
2) The tortillas did not have as much corn flavour as you might expect
3) The rice and beans. The beans were the canned refried variety. The rice was not very flavourful at all. I would skip the rice and beans next time.
4) They should squeeze out some of the stewing juices before putting the meat in the tacos. By the time I got to the last one it was soggy and breaking apart.
5) They should do a double tortilla for the tacos.
6) They should put some fresh cilantro in the tacos and perhaps scrap the sour cream and lettuce.
7) A side slice of lime would be fabulous
8) I wish they would offer some non-stewed meats as well
Overall it is a solid 3.5 star spot, but I'm rounding up because of the limited selection in Vancouver.Listed in: Vancouver Latin and Caribbean…, Thanks, Yelp!
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Review from Michael H.
Calgary, AB
10/15/2010
There is a little bit of Mexico in BC, and it is buried deep inside Burnaby.
I got me a bit of everything. A Mexican drink, a fresh homemade salsa, and some of their hot fresh fare.
I ordered a couple chicken tamales which were incredible. Also ordered three tacos, a chicken, a beef, and a chorizo. I added some of my tomatillo salsa to the tacos. Again, incredible. The flavours were really quite varied with every bite, and the chorizo had a nice punch to it. To drink a bought a bottle of carbonated apple cider, Sidral Mundet.
My only complaint is that I had the eat the tacos with a knife and fork, since the tortilla ripped apart trying to pick them up. Maybe a small complaint, but knocking a star off the review for it.
I will return here again and again. I might mention the problem with the tacos and hope they find a solution. -
Review from Peter S.
I am going to say it... Ready?
Best Mexican joint I have found in BC so far!
There.
Step 1.
Print out Yelp map to figure out how to get here (holy Burnaby confusing!)
Step 2.
Order up a large chicken enchilada and a Sidral
Step 3.
Get a stack (90) of freshly made still warm tortillas to go
Step 4.
Eat
Step 5.
Look at map with full tummy and weary eyes to figure out how to get back to civilization
Step 6.
There isn't one. Just go. Damn it!
Oh... and they have killer tamales, salsas, and legit Mexican cheeses as well. And most are made in-house. Brilliant!Listed in: Mexican
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Review from Carlos M.
Coquitlam, BC
3/27/2011
Being of Hispanic descent I've often found myself feeling a bit nostalgic and three years out of Mexico seems like a lifetime without that traditional cuisine. People go around saying how stuff like Taco Bell is Mexican food have no idea what they're talking about and finding a decent eatery that will make them eat their words, I thought, wa near impossible.
'El Comal' is small and out of the way but in this manner it in fact embraces the style of some of the best Mexican food places there are. We don't have big fancy restaurants with chandeliers and satin tablecloths or any of all that mumbo. Our best restaurants are often found as the little eatery by the plaza or the taco stand down the street and 'El Comal' captures this perfectly.
And the food, all I have to say, is that it tasted as if I were back home, everything, especially the tacos of 'carnitas' tasted, smelled and looked as if I'd never left home. -
Review from caroline s.
Burnaby, BC
2/19/2011
Yummy, fresh, delicious. Must get the food to go again :) A hit!
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Review from Mark c.
New Westminster, BC
9/1/2010
I have been going here for about a couple of years, on a recommendation from a national. Their cooked food repertoire has increased dramatically. And I agree it is the best in BC, although this is a light compliment considering the competition.
