Gavin's guide, on SPOT
The Best Carnitas in SD
5 spots · San Diego, United States
Finding good Mexican food in SD can be like finding a good pasta in Rome. It should be easy, but in practice it’s a tourist town with a lot of traps. Here I’ve put together those spots that do it right. Big hunks of pork, lots of lard, in a large copper pot. The kind of carnitas that keep cardiologists in business, and the neighborhood well fed.
#1
Juanitas Taco Shop
Encinitas · Tacos · $$
Buried between the surf shops and yoga studios on Highway 101, Juanitas has spent nearly five decades perfecting what it does best: carnitas. The family still cooks the same recipe that keeps people coming back - counter service, nonstop takeout orders, portions so generous they practically overflow the wrapper. This isn't a place you'd pick for vibes alone, but the consistency builds generational loyalty.
Order this
Carnitas burritoCalifornia burritoFish tacoCarne asada nachos
#2
Carnitas Uruapan family restaunt
Rolando Village, San Diego · Mexican · $$
The El Cajon Blvd location is the expanded sister restaurant to a beloved La Mesa original, following the same family recipe that's defined regionally cherished carnitas for nearly four decades. While reviews emphasize the Ranchero burrito - loaded with chile relleno, carne asada, beans and rice - the real draw is the pork itself: slow-cooked for over two hours until the outside crisps and the inside stays moist and tender, which reviewers with Mexican family ties confirm hits the authentic mark.
Order this
Carnitas (slow-cooked pork by the pound, made fresh daily with corn tortillas)Ranchero burrito with chile relleno, carne asada, beans and riceChicharrón braised in homemade salsa with tomato, tomatillos and serrano peppersChile rellenos stuffed with steak, salsa ranchera, rice, cheese and beans
#3
Carnitas Las Michoacanas
Rolando Park, San Diego · Mexican · $$
These carnitas have been cooked the same way for over fifty years - pork slowly simmered in lard in large cazos until the meat surrenders completely. The technique is Michoacán through and through, and reviewers have been known to drive two hours from Los Angeles just for this. You're in a strip mall on University Avenue in a neighborhood that doesn't advertise itself, but that's exactly where the labor happens.
Order this
Carnitas by the pound with rice and beansChilaquilesPozole MichoacanoBreakfast Burrito
#4
Carnitas y Mariscos Las Morelianas
Grant Hill, San Diego · Mexican · $$
Las Morelianas started in 1997 as a small stall outside a produce store and earned enough devotion to expand to its current Grant Hill location. The kitchen specializes in carnitas surtida - every edible part of the pig slow-cooked in lard in the traditional Michoacán style, a technique not unlike French confit. But the menu doesn't stop there: the team sources fresh seafood that rivals the pork, and the ceviche, fish tacos, and octopus dishes get the same commitment to technique.
Order this
Carnitas surtida by the poundCeviche plate with tortilla chips and sidesChicharrón prensadoFish tacos
#5
California Burritos
Birdland, San Diego · Mexican · $$
California burritos - the San Diego invention built on carne asada, fries, cheese, and sour cream - originated in the region around the 1980s. California Burritos executes the core recipe with consistency: substantial fillings, quick turnover, and the kind of no-frills approach that keeps a place moving from 6am to 11pm. This location in Mission Valley draws lines because they build a pound-heavy burrito and charge what seems fair for the portion.
Order this
California BurritoBacon, Egg, Cheese and PotatoCarne Asada FriesMenudoCarnitas
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