The Real Oregon

Friendly, muy autentico, really delicious food, and costs practically nothing. What else could you want? We stumbled across this little place while looking for breakfast and came back to have lunch.

Los Compadres Taqueria is on the west side of Highway 101 next to Old Town in Florence. It feels more Mexican than Oregonian, with phone cards for calling home and the mandatory image of the Virgin of Guadalupe — all a good sign in a restaurant.

The pozole — served on Saturday and Sunday only — was incredibly good, an entire meal in a bowl for just $6.50.

We’ll be going back for more…. Very soon.

The truth is, a lot of people weren’t too happy when this RV campground and restaurant started to sprout in the Narrows between Harney and Malheur lakes near Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. It was ugly, it was unnecessary — and mostly it was there, taking up room that ought to be open desert. (Never mind there was once an entire town here.)

Turned out, though, that the people who run it are pleasant and the food is great. Stop in for rib eye steak and a glass of wine for dinner or eggs, coffee and gossip for breakfast.