Craving birria tacos las vegas style but unsure where to start? Look for a birriería or taco shop that serves the beef taco with melted cheese and a cup of rich broth for dipping.
This guide is part of our look at latino restaurants in las vegas.
| Item | Key fact |
|---|---|
| Birria’s original home | Jalisco, western Mexico |
| Bill Esparza observes birria tacos in Tijuana | Around 2009 |
| Quesabirria reaches Los Angeles | Around 2016 |
| 664 TJ Birrieria opens in Las Vegas | 2019 |
| Carnitas y Tortas Ahogadas Guadalajara family recipe | Three generations, four Las Vegas locations |
Figures come from Wikipedia’s quesabirria entry and a Nevada news roundup. Restaurant details change, so check the source and the restaurant before you rely on them.
What birria actually is
Birria is a slow-cooked, chile-marinated meat dish from western Mexico. Wikipedia’s birria entry describes it as a regional variation of barbacoa, mainly made with goat, beef or lamb.
The meat is marinated in an adobo of dried chiles and spices, then cooked until it falls apart. It is served as a stew with condiments, or as filling for tacos.
The same page adds that restaurants or street carts that serve birria are known as birrierías, and that they exist throughout Mexico, especially in Michoacán and Jalisco.
Where birria comes from: Jalisco first
The word started as a regional label. The term birria was originally the regional name given in the state of Jalisco and surrounding areas to meats cooked in a pit or earth oven, what is known in other parts of Mexico as barbacoa, according to the same entry.
Today, especially in the United States, many people treat birria as its own dish rather than a style of barbacoa.
Where the word itself comes from is still argued. One scholar, José Ignacio Dávila Garibi, argued that the term was of Coca origin and not from the Spanish term birria meaning worthless.
Origin stories also vary. One tale argues that in 1519, Hernán Cortés and the Conquistadors first landed in Mexico, bringing various old-world domestic animals, including goats. Treat stories like that as folklore rather than settled history.
The entry also explains how birria changed in Tijuana. It says the resulting dish is now known as Tijuana-style beef birria, making Zárate a household name among birrierías for being the first person in Tijuana to make birria with consomé.
That is the link between the two worlds. The Jalisco stew gave the flavors, and Tijuana cooks gave us the beef-and-consomé version that diners now line up for.
From stew to the cheesy taco: Tijuana’s role
The taco most people now mean by birria tacos is a newer creation. The quesabirria entry says quesabirria was created in Tijuana, Mexico, inspired by the traditional birria stew of Jalisco.
The same page says California food writer Bill Esparza saw birria being served in tacos at a taco truck called Tacos Aaron in Tijuana around 2009. Other taco trucks then added cheese.
It says Tijuana taqueros brought quesabirria to Los Angeles around 2016. It also credits Instagram and TikTok with turning it into a cult food.
How a typical order is built
- Seasoned birria meat folded into a tortilla.
- Melted cheese, which is what the “quesa” in quesabirria refers to.
- A side of consomé, the broth, for dipping.
- Optional salsas and garnishes such as lime, radish or pickled habaneros.
Some diners sip the consomé instead of dipping. Variations include vampiritos, which use crispy cheese in place of or on top of tortillas, and birraquiles, which are tortilla chips topped with birria, cheese and consomé.
Where birria tacos show up in Las Vegas
Las Vegas has taken to the dish through family-run shops, taco trucks and a few chains. A Nevada news roundup of birria spots is a useful starting list.
- 664 TJ Birrieria comes straight to Las Vegas from Southern California, opening here in 2019, according to that roundup.
- Carnitas y Tortas Ahogadas Guadalajara cooks a time-honored family birria recipe that spans three generations at four locations in Las Vegas and one in Reno.
- Tacos Los Barrios is a family-owned spot with three brick-and-mortar locations in Las Vegas, one in Henderson, and a food truck.
- El Compa Birria Tatemada is a family-owned shop that serves Jalisco-style food, with goat among the meat choices and tortillas made fresh in-house.
- Birria Bite Los Arcos is run by a family that shares a love for slow-cooked, rich birria, and its menu adds empanadas and mariscos.
The roundup notes that El Compa was featured on an episode of the Netflix show “Taco Chronicles”. One Yelp reviewer it quotes, more used to Tijuana-style birria, was pleasantly surprised by El Compa and the large portion of goat.
That detail is a handy reminder that two styles share the name. Jalisco-style birria leans on goat, while Tijuana-style beef birria, with consomé, is the one behind the cheesy taco.
Locations, menus and deals move around, so confirm hours and addresses with the restaurant before you drive across town.
If you want to compare birria with other tacos in town, our guide to the best tacos in las vegas covers the wider field.
How to order and what to look for
A few simple habits make the first visit easier, and none of them need insider knowledge.
- Ask whether the birria is beef, goat or lamb. Beef is common for tacos, while goat is the older tradition.
- Order the tacos with consomé on the side, and dip each one as you go.
- Try a plain taco first, then a quesabirria, to taste the difference cheese makes.
- Add lime, radish or salsa to cut the richness of the meat.
- Check for specials such as Taco Tuesday deals, which some shops advertise.
Judge a shop by the broth. A good consomé tastes of chile and slow-cooked meat, not just salt or grease.
Birria beyond the taco
Tacos are only one way to eat it. The birria entry says the dish is often served with corn tortillas, onions, cilantro, and lime, and that preparation techniques vary.
It is also a dish for gatherings. It is often served at celebratory occasions such as weddings, baptisms and during holidays such as Christmas and Easter, and even at funerals.
Las Vegas menus stretch the idea in their own way. According to the Nevada roundup, the Birria Bite Los Arcos menu serves cheesy birria empanadas alongside savory tacos and mariscos, with a twist on Mexican favorites. Ask what a shop makes on the day, since menus vary.
Las Vegas also holds food traditions from other parts of Latin America. If you enjoy the Mexican side, our piece on salvadoran food las vegas shows how different the neighboring kitchens can be.
Frequently asked questions
Is birria the same as barbacoa?
Show answer
Not exactly. Birria was originally the regional name in Jalisco and surrounding areas for meat cooked in a pit or earth oven, which other parts of Mexico call barbacoa. Today many people treat it as a distinct dish.
What is the difference between birria and quesabirria?
Show answer
Birria is the meat or stew. Quesabirria is the taco: birria-style beef folded into a tortilla with melted cheese and served with broth for dipping.
Is birria always made with beef?
Show answer
No. It is mainly made with goat, beef or lamb. Quesabirria is also made with other meats, such as chicken.
Where did quesabirria start?
Show answer
Wikipedia’s entry says it was created in Tijuana, Mexico. It reached Los Angeles around 2016.
