Carnitas Uruapan Mexican Food
4233 Spring St, La Mesa, CA, 91941
Carnitas Uruapan Mexican Food Menu
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Address :
4233 Spring St
La Mesa, CA, 91941 - Phone (619) 337-2448
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Janey J.
I LOVE Mexican food and have not tried a single dish here that I didn't LOVE! Plus, the employees here are always kind and accommodating. The carnitas are delicious- moist but not overly fatty or greasy. The carne asada is super flavorful too. Finally, their chipotle salsa might as well be called gold salsa, as I would pay them in gold to put on top of my Mexican cuisine. It's so well flavored and has some heat, but isn't overly spicy.
(5)Rich G.
I eat here pretty regularly. It is the best Mexican food in this area they have quick service, good food, and the prices are on par with others in the area. Also, when they have flan it's a must get.
(4)Ann V. S.
Pleasantly surprised. Their carnitas taco was superb! The amount of meat was huge and even though I thought the flavor was a bit on the salty side [only slightly] I think this little place knows what they are doing. The guac was very good. Could have used a bit more cilantro....but totally satisfied! I'll be going back to try other items when in the area.
(5)cristina h.
Loved it!! A new fave!! Craving the carnitas burritos!!! Prices are awesome and the service was prompt and accurate!! Could eat there everyday!!
(5)Hong P.
I got a cheese enchilada to go here. Service was fast. Price is standard and on par with other taco shops. The enchilada was very cheesy which may appeal to some people. The sauce was not very flavorful. The tortill was a tad hard. Overall a decent meal.
(3)Rolando S.
Best Burritos in La Mesa!!! I go at least 3 times a week. They treat you right and feed you well.
(5)Brian F.
I always get the dinner for one. That is enough for 2 meals! it comes with carnitas, rice, beans and tortillas. Very good flavor and tender. Need to come back on the weekend and try their street tacos.
(4)Donna M.
Just recently found out about this place. Read a review that they had the best carnitas tacos - so we had to check it out. Melt in your mouth delish! Went back a second time and there was an hour wait for carnitas - so we opted to try other items on the menu. Our order consisted of a fish taco, a chicken taco, 3 potato rolled tacos, and a carne asada burrito. The piece of fish in the taco was huge and crispy-only negative was that because of its size, it could have used two tortillas. The chicken taco was possibly the best chicken taco I have ever had - grilled white meat chicken and loaded with it. The 3 potato rolled tacos were not really rolled tacos -- they were folded tacos - loaded with potato. The carne asada burrito was probably 6 inches around, or more - well worth the price . Highly recommend this place! So good! And they're on Mogl, so we got some cash back! Bonus!
(5)K N.
Love this place, it's one of my new favorites. Authentic mexican cuisine, menudo that's delicious and reminds me of home The drive through isn't really a drive through.. and this place gets crowded because the inside is small. Try it out.
(5)Aileen T.
I'm a new fan! My husband and I got the 1/2 lb of carnitas to share despite the board saying it was a meal for one - it was enough for us. Probably the best carnitas I've ever had. My daughter got the carne asada which was a disappointment, but I don't care - we'll be back for the carnitas.
(5)Peter H.
This place is horrible. My girlfriend said the rolled tacos were the worst she's ever had and my carne asada plate was very lacking. The rice was tasteless, the beans were watery, and the meat was not cut up and was very tough and burned. It's like they didn't even try. Will not be going there again. Stay away. I'll update later if I get diarrhea.
(1)Jeremy S.
Bomb service! Hot delicious food, and clean ... I will drive our of my way to come back.
(5)Steve S.
They have consistently good food. In fact, so good they often run out of some of my favorites. But it's well worth coming back because getting it fresh and getting here is way better than getting food somewhere else.
(5)Mark A.
Great food and prices. Try out their California Burrito and 99 cent al pastor mini tacos on the weekends!
(5)C M.
This place is delicious! Super cheap and just so good! Yum carne asada, carnitas, chile relleno, tamales, enchiladas, beans, rice, horchata!!! Everything is perfect. So authentic and great.
(5)Peter F.
Came here on a Friday morning for breakfast and ordered a Machaca burrito. At first glance, the burrito smelled delicious and the portion was large. Unfortunately, the machaca had zero seasoning, bland, and stuffed with unnecessary sandwich sized tomatoes. I'm sorry, but machaca is a very common breakfast item and it flat out sucked over here. The salsa bar was bleak and disappointing. Bland red hot sauce. Didn't have the verde because they didn't stock it. Maybe their lunch or dinner items are better? I just didn't have a good breakfast experience.
(2)Annette J.
Love this place, we usually come in on weekends for TJ style tacos. The owner is a super sweet lady, who loves to see her regulars and see how they are doing. Family restaurant.
(5)Desiree S.
Went back tonight and have to say the street tacos are the best I have ever had in San Diego. It took me back to Mexico when my grandmother was going through cancer treatment. Seriously best I have had.
(5)Christine T.
I love it here! People that work here are so very nice. The food is fantastic! I love the carnitas, the plate for one can easily feed two. I was lucky enough to try the pozole even though it's not on the menu. So delicious!
(5)Phillip M.
We favor thus place a lot small not your everyday updated place but if you ever been to the one in Mexico this works fine ..the food here is hi UST like TJ and right on the mark the veggies are fresh the meat is always a hit. Can get very packed but worth the wait
(5)Mary S.
My guests can only say "Great, delicious, where did you get all this great food." We picked up food for 15 to 20 people to serve on Fathers Day from Carnitas Uruapan , everything was great, the carnitas with their flour tortilla was super, the chunky chicken with peppers and onions was so delicious. Our grandson (Mr. Picky) was lovin the rice and beans, actually he was coming back for 2nd and 3rds of everything. If you want authentic Mexican food this is the place to go. The carne Asada was great, the service at the front counter was outstanding, we had Liz and she was super multitasking for everyone. The complimentary beans were a hit.. Thank you for making this a great Fathers Day fiesta. Recommend going to Carnitas Uruapan for your next home party, picnic or just enjoy, ,yum...
(5)Nick Z.
Amazing!!!!! 1/2 lb of carnitas, rice, beans, tortillas and fresh garnishments for $5.50 is a good deal, one you eat it you'll realize its an Amazing deal! Tasty food, great potato tacos reminding me of being a kid, super good salsa and a very friendly staff! Oh and the turn around on orders is usually within a couple minutes
(5)Kat K.
We are new to the area and were looking for some good quick mexican, we stumbled on this place and so far yummy, we always get the standard rolled tacos and bean and cheese but ready to venture the menu.
(4)Jonelle O.
This is our favorite place to have al pastor in San Diego County. Friday and Saturday nights you can get the small al pastor tacos for $1 each and they are delicious. They serve them with a little guacamole on top, which isn't how we're used to eating them but it works and they are awesome. Believe me. I know everything. Their carnitas meals are also the best. We can stuff ourselves silly on the carnitas meal for two. It's very authentic and tasty food. We used to eat at the one in Lemon Grove but were so excited that they moved closer to us in La Mesa. This is the kind of place my husband wants to bring his parents on one of their trips back from Mexico. Oh, their drive-thru is so awkward. I haven't used it, but it's basically just a large window in front of the building. It's funny and I can't wait to use it someday. Awkwardly.
(5)Araceli A.
We ordered enchiladas and the sauce tasted very bland. And the suizas were salty. Not authentic at all. Rice and beans tasted microwaved.Made my stomach feel very unpleasant .
(1)Angel R. N.
Food was decent. Food was either cold or reheated. Guacamole and salsa was not fresh.. Only good thing here is the carnitas and chicharrones...Would have to be really hungry to come back here.
(3)Susana L.
Food was decent. Food was either cold or reheated. Guacamole and salsa was not fresh.. Only good thing here is the carnitas and chicharrones...Would have to be really hungry to come back here.
(2)Nessa V.
Closest thing to home I can get !!!! I was so happy to see they had just moved instead of dissapeared. Not too much room inside but everythinng is always amazing
(5)Ernie M.
Awesome South of the Border menu that is consistent, time after time. Family run business, pop n mom, 3 daughters 2 sons, throw in a few uncles, spouses, husbands who help out, makes it a cool environment. Just a gringo who has been coming here for past 5 years. Notice that many of the patrons are of Latino descent which infers to me its good home cooked food. My taste buds confirm this. If Uruapan were a stock I'd be investing heavyily!
(5)Susan P.
Go to place for Carnitas...haven't tried anything else (except for the street tacos which were excellent) since when I have a craving for Carnitas this is the only place to go. The only down side to the Carnitas plate is that there is not enough tomatoes for the large portion of pork. I would suggest when ordering for more then one to get individual plates instead of the Carnitas for 2,3....etc...... much more sides for the money......which by the way the Carnitas plate is still the best deal in town! Thank you!
(5)Paul Q.
From the food to the service, this place definitely meets my expectation. I go here probably 3-4 to times a month. If you're looking for delicious Mexican food and want to dine in a family friendly environment, I highly recommend this place.
(5)Emily R.
Hey honey what's for dinner? Let's check yelp. Hmm.. Carnitas! Yum.. So decision is made and were on our way. 1 plate of carnitas later, belly is full, no dishes to clean and I'm a happy girl. Plus left overs are always a plus in my book!
(3)Conrad R.
Good but not over-the-top great. When you get the family's blessing to take on the Carnitas Uruapan name, you'd better deliver all the goods. I didn't want nostalgia of the previously closed down Lemon Grove location to affect my opinion of this namesake, because this is a taco shop with a drive thru window and a small dining room at Spring St., not the full service restaurant it used to be on Broadway. Lunch was pretty good, I got in early enough to beat the noontime crowd. After perusing the menu board for typos and getting my inner grammar nazi giggles under control, I put in my order for carnitas, of course. I didn't drive all the way here for something else, and don't get me started on going off the reservation about trying food that a place doesn't really excel in. The plate comes as shown with all the usual accoutrement [ yelp.com/biz_photos/kwsr… . The portion is generous and hearty as I filled up three corn tortillas and still had more tasty bites to bring home to snack on later. All this for roughly $6. Some other notables: - The familiar collection of cute ceramic piggies and other porky tchotchke adorns the place, along with framed news clippings that pay homage to the original family restaurant. - Planning on dining in with a number of family and friends? Call ahead and they can reserve some tables to accommodate your group. - The drive thru is literally a kitchen window. No speaker box then drive forward. Just pull up and order. Thumbs up for efficiency and a win for customers on the go. - They have Buche on the weekends. I'm kind of bummed that I didn't stumble across this place during the weekend when the outdoor grill was fired up. Overall, the experience was a positive. The taco shop version is fine, but nothing exceptional, especially since there are hundreds of taquerias all around town. If you're nearby, then check them out. They're not in my wheelhouse because I've got plenty of decent spots closer to home, although if I was craving only for a good plate of carnitas, then I just might...
(3)Heather C.
Oh man. the 2 person meal fed 2 people for lunch, 3 people for dinner, and another 2 for lunch. BIG portions, tasty pork, all a win!
(5)Sheryll B.
the staff there are super friendly and awesome!!! thank you for those street tacos!!!!!!
(5)Kristi D.
Being from the Imperial Valley, good Mexican food like my Nana made, is hard to come by. BUT Carnitas Uruapan has filled that need and alas it is but around the corner! Chille Rellenos made with jack cheese and not shredded orange cheese. Hallelujah! Thank you sweet baby Jesus! Tacos dorados oh my. Street adobada tacos, yum. Tamals, enchiladas and sopes oh my! I love the comfort and vibe of this place. Friendly people coming to where the food is good. And of course the staple like PB&J is always the beans and rice and I couldn't be more pleased. You make it so easy to love you Carnitas Uruapan! Sigh... : )
(5)Nathan H.
I've just moved to la mesa from city heights and have recently found myself in dire need of some amazing mexican food. Sopes aren't always easy to find and this place has them. California burritos here are super bomb - the carne asada is on point and while the fries could use a little more crisp, they're good. The salsa ia different from your average taco shop type salsa (deep red, peppery, spicy), but is a nice change and has a strong lime and mellow roasted peppery taste - different but so good. The horchata sucked as it came right out of a machine bit that's cool. Bomb ass food and I will come back for some buche and menudo asap.
(5)Kelsey R.
This is my favorite place to get carnitas in the neighborhood, hands down fantastic, and consistent! Was worried when they changed locations but they never let me down. My boyfriend and I come at least once a week. You get a lot of food for the price you pay and its awesome, we share the dinner for one and just get extra tortillas. The meal for two could probably feed a family of four. Oh and its minute, but i really like their rice too and they always give me extra limes :P Because what the heck are deep fried pork tacos with no limes!
(5)Fabiola R.
really needed some comfort food so drove out of my way to try this new joint out- they shouldn't try to use this name that is synonymous with good carnitas - horrible and greasy, I posted a picture-I could have given someone a massage with the amount of oil on my hands when I first held it. I will probably get the runs...
(1)Selena Q.
The food here is pretty good! Really bad customer service. The girls there never greet or smile.
(2)Tori C.
New owners for a while now and I started to go back to this taco shop because my hubby would bring food home from here because it's on his way home, and the food was very good! I want to update my review because now that I've been there several times, I can say that the food is delicious, the restaurant clean, and the staff very friendly. There is a huge variety of authentic Mexican dishes and I've been trying to mix it up a little bit although my "go to" is still rolled tacos with guacamole, cheese, lettuce, and pico. Yum!! My teenage son loves to stop by when they are cooking street tacos outside- we get a dozen of them and the outdoor seating is enjoyable even though it's just a little table or two. So happy this place is finally serving great Mexican food!! As I always say, taco shops are the answer to fast food for my family and this place is close, and yummy :) Oh, and prices are not something I have noticed so all I can say about that is that it must be around the same as most taco shops because I haven't noticed a big dif when paying :)
(4)Jennifer F.
YUMMMMMMMM. This place should really have MORE reviews! I get the carnitas plate for $5.50 and it feeds me three or more meals (I'm small!!). I hope they don't raise their prices! I think a lot of mexican food is overpriced, but not at Carnitas Urupan. Now burritos are costing around $7 at other places! Carnitas Urupan is so yummy and they give you lots of food! I LOVE it. Also their street tacos (on certain occasions they have a little grill outside) are AMAZING. My boyfriend and I tried one and the flavor was just amazing. Juicy and so yummy. I love Mexican food... probably one of my favorite cuisines EVER.
(5)Joel P.
I love this place. Tasty food, inexpensive. Carnitas dinner, chilaquiles, rolled tacos and tortas are good selections. Nice folks running the place, always helpful and smiling. It can get busy but the food has always been fresh and timely.
(5)Jamie R.
We come here every once in a while. The food is pretty tasty and pretty consistent. The staff is always really friendly and the food, fresh. If you are planning on carnitas and it Is after 5:30-6pm, might want to call and see if they have any ready before heading in. Just FYI. Only downside..... Their hot carrots are too mushy. It's a big deal to me because I eat hot carrots pretty religiously. Lol
(4)Tony G.
My experience was awful. I walked up to their open window thinking it was an ordering window since I didn't see their front door. I stood there for about a minute waiting to be greeted by two of the employees who saw me standing there. Instead they completely ignored me not even saying hi. So I made my way inside. Again I was ignored by the greeter who was on the phone talking to a friend not even taking any orders. So I waited for her to get off the phone. I asked her a question about their business name and she rudely replied "What?!" and had no interest in my question at all. So I just shrugged it off and placed my order. I asked for the carnitas burrito with no onions since they are supposed to be known for their carnitas. My order didn't take long but other than me there was only one other person in there. My burrito tasted old and had onions. The carnitas were definitely not the best I've tasted and hardly any good. It was too salty and the tortilla was burnt. I pretty much had to drown out the taste with their salsa which I'll admit was good. This place needs to work on customer service or at least train that individual to properly welcome customers and also work on enhancing their foods taste and quality.
(1)Glenn M.
Ordered a specialty Picoso burrito and that was awesome. The customer service really sucked. Bad. I mean the girl in the front was downright un-attentive and gave no attention at all, but managed to sit down there and watch videos on her phone. The food is great but the service is just downright awful.
(3)K S.
Price: Great prices- For a small bowl of white menudo and a Huevos a la Mexicana plate, it came out to less than $10. Also on weekends they have $1 al pastor street tacos. Taste: Great tasting food. The al pastor tacos are pretty good and so is their guacamole. Customer Service: Ehhh...could have been a lot better. I'm pretty sure I said "thank you" on four different occasions to our waitress and got no kind of acknowledgement, "you're welcome", or even a smile. Also, when I arrived there was nowhere to sit because two of the tables had not been cleaned off. After about 10 minutes of standing and receiving no attention, I decided to take the plates off the table myself so I could sit down. They could use more bussers/staff. I would recommend to use the drive-thru OR just order to go. Overall: Food is good, service stinks, but prices are great!
(3)Desmond S.
This is hands down my favorite Mexican Restaurant here in the San Diego area. Service is always great and with a smile and I can't say enough about the food, the amount of food and the price. If you're in the La Mesa area you got to stop by.
(5)C.A. R.
It's a tiny family enterprise, but the food is delicious. Carnitas, chicahrrones, are all very good. I like the Maggie burrito, which is a carnitas and crispy chicharron mix. Very tasty and I love the mouth feel and taste of the crispy skins under tooth. Servings are generous to the point that we under-order. For example, we get the sample platter for 3 and it easily serves as an entree for 4 hungry people. I have not tried the shrimp enchiladas yet but they appear to be loaded with shrimp. Its a 5 star for a hole-in the wall joint. 4 Star overall compared to the rest of the SD market.
(5)Jose r.
Best carnitas in SD hands down . I get a pound every Friday night the meat and salsas are fresh and delicious and the service is friendly . A good tip is to call in your order even if your getting something small , they do at times run out of carnitas . The other great thing is the $1.00 tacos they have on the weekend , yummy !
(5)Jaspar B.
Great Carnitas. Polite and swift service. Five hungry guys for lunch and served immediately. Beans very good. Big thumbs up.
(4)Goose P.
Best customer service! Can not wait to come back!!!
(5)Jack M.
I had an early dinner today here. I was in the mood for some tacos, and I usually get beef, but today I opt for the carnitas, since it is the specialty of this place. I ordered the two taco combo on corn tortillas with rice and beans. The girl behind the counter asked me if I wanted the tacos with everything on them and I said sure. When my combo plate arrived, I was happy to see they were loaded with guacamole. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/kwsr… ) As I bit into my first taco, I realized that something was missing. Let's see: carnitas check, guac plenty there, onions and cilantro, yup. I know, there's no picadillo. To bad, I really enjoy that fresh chopped tomatoes, onions, and serrano peppers in my carnitas tacos. Oh well, so I went to the salsa bar and grabbed some tomatillo hot sauce because the taco needed some juice. Although the tacos were stuffed with carnitas and guac, they were a little dry, but filling. The tacos were good and so was the rice, however, the re fried beans had that taste as if they have been sitting in the pot for a while. Overall the meal was A Okay. The carnitas taco combo was $6.99. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays they have a grill outside were they make fresh street tacos. WhErE's ThE pIcAdILLo?
(3)Lisa S.
This place has the best Carnitas, Rice, Beans, Carrots, & Everything.. Ivan and his family have a little Gem off of Spring Street. They aim to please. They do large Party orders, My Guests Loved the Food, My whole family Loves this restaurant and we will be returning for our Cravings.!! Thank you Ivan and familia.!! Love Alex's Mom..
(5)Donovan B.
Today was my first time here. I got a bacon breakfast burrito with papas (.60 extra) and it is probably the best breakfast burrito I have ever had. Perfect ratio of eggs, cheese, bacon, and potato. Mixed together well. The burrito was rolled very tightly and it was not messy at all. Didn't fall apart. Heavy, dense, delicious. The red sauce (kinda orange looking) is AMAZING. I got all 3 hot sauces to try them out and the red sauce is by far my favorite. I used up the little container pretty quickly. I will definitely be back to try out their other offerings.
(5)Randy C.
A bit of a mix. And I really would like to have rated it higher. I loved the previous Carnitas Urupan in Lemon Grove, I was sad to read the owner had passed on, but glad to read that it was opening up in La Mesa on spring. But other than the name, I don't see much that is similar. The good: Cheese enchilada. Chili Releno Four tortillas Attitude The meat on the spit outside looked like (once it was done cooking) to be worthy The OK Beans Ricer Carnitas Parking lot sucks a bit. Small place. The NOT-SO-GOOD One small napkin handed out with the meal. A very small one. Where are more of them? My hands got all messy from the salsa....but no napkins to be seen. Chips. Not very good. But the deal is... I can find quality Mexican food all over. I would drive 15 miles for Carnitas at Carnitas Urupan... but this was just bland. Not tender. Not tasty. Just hunks of pork. I had to drown them in salsa to get flavor on them. And as mentioned...salsa is messy... and no napkins out in the dining area. Don't make me go to the counter for napkins. That is lame. I wish them luck in making a go of it.
(3)José C.
The original Carnitas Uruapan Restaurant was located in Lemon Grove. The owner died and this new business was given the rights to use the same name, to a disservice of the original restaurant and/or the owner. Food: The food is no different than any other fast food Mexican restaurant. There is no difference in food between this place and Filipbertos, Adalbertos, Rigobertos, etc etc. The enchiladas suisas are a disaster (see image). Venue: The locale is a tiny corner unit which seems to have been a fast food Mexican restaurant before. The inside is no better than a taqueria in Tijuana. No labeled bathroom inside. Service: The place is being ran by an amateur and everything is disorganized. I ordered food to dine-in and I got it to on Styrofoam boxes to go. If the intention was to continue with the quality of food and service from the previous owner, this place has failed miserable. Not only is the food quality in the gutter, the service and ambiance is there with it. The enchiladas suisas was a pile of cheddar cheese freshly microwaved to melt it. No lettuce or avocado come with it. The beans are horrible. They are not re-fried as the original place. In summary, the previous owner is turning over in her grave seeing what these people have done to her cherish restaurant. This was the best place to eat Carnitas in SD. Now, this place has joined the hundreds of taco shops in town that offer nothing better than CRAP!
(2)Zue W.
All I ate was tacos al pastor and I really liked them. I will be coming back when I'm in the area. Yum yum. We ate in our truck.
(4)Rudy R.
The food was great and the service was awesome. Can not wait to come back!!!
(5)Jim C.
This has become a regular stop for us, street tacos, menudo, chicharrons, carnitas its all truly done with an original Mexican style. If you are use to the "gringo style" Mexican food this will surprise you for sure, much different and in our familys opinion well worth eating for any meal any time!
(5)Terri H.
We were soooooooo disappointed when the original restaurant, our long-time fav for carnitas and menudo was closed last year. But, true to the original family's heart, they allowed their cook to take over the name and reestablish in another location. Today was our first visit and man, was it worth it!! Small place and somewhat awkward location (especially if you were trying to use the drive-up), but the food was wonderful and beautifully authentic. Then menudo that another patron was eating looked just the same as before and the carnitas tacos were divine. My husband also ordered a burrito that was huge, filled with meat and not fillers like potatoes, rice, beans, etc. We will gladly return for great food and we wish this family all the success they deserve for carrying on such a delicious tradition!!!
(5)Cathy C.
Years ago when this place was in Lemon Grove I loved going there! However, I went to this one in La Mesa and had only bad experiences! 2x they were out of carnita's! Wtf! So finally today I figured I would try one more time. I went during halftime of the superbowl. When I walk in I wasn't greeted by friendly hello's, instead I had 3 employees just literally staring at me with such rude faces like what the hell was I doing there! I chose to ignore it and since no one asked how they could help me I went ahead and told them, carnita's dinner for 2 and 1/2 lb of chicharones. The cashier literally turned around to the cook and screamed " someone kill me now!" Really??!! I was so uncomfortable! Awkward! The cook proceeds to say "we are out of....." yes, I cut him off and simply said im outta here and walked out. Then I heard one of the girls scream at the top of her lungs....why? Who the hell knows why but she is lucky I didn't march right back in there and school these teenagers on customer service! I WILL NEVER GO BACK THERE EVER AGAIN! Back in the day they had mature servers and employees, where are they?! LET ME GIVE YOU A PIECE OF ADVICE: YOU ARE KNOWN FOR YOUR CARNITA'S, MAKE SURE YOU MAKE ENOUGH! IT WAS ONLY 4P TODAY AND LAST TIME 2P AND OUT OF FOOD?! OK, SO IF YOU RUN OUT, EITHER CLOSE SHOP OR PUT UP A SIGN OUTSIDE! LASTLY, FIRE YOUR CURRENT CREW AND HIRE SOME EMPLOYEES THAT CAN HANDLE THE PRESSURE OF RUNNING OUT OF FOOD AND NOT TAKE IT OUT ON AN UNKNOWING CUSTOMER! I MAY HAVE STAYED IF I WAS OFFERED A SUBSTITUTE INSTEAD OF AN EMPLOYEE THAT BEGGED TO BE KILLED! So do you know where I went and spent money? NORTHGATE! Yep, drove 5 miles away to not only get fresh delicious food but where the customer service is awesome! Even spent $40 instead of $20 that I originally planned. I never in my life have left reviews, but after my experience today I just had to say something! by the way, I am being very polite about this, but trust me when I tell you, I wasn't so polite about it telling my friends! Keep it up and I can guarantee you won't last much longer. Only have one star cuz I had to! YOUR CARNITA'S MAY BE GOOD BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN JACK WHEN YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE SUCKS!
(1)Alejandra Z.
I heard about this place but never been. I went this last weekend and the mini el pastor tacos that they had were delicious. I ordered 2 and had to order 2 more. They were definitely comparable to TJ street tacos. Plus they are only $1 on Sundays and I think a couple other days. We got other stuff their too like the rolled tacos were good and they use real shredded beef. I am Mexican and know how to cook and this place was good for a taco shop. Next time I will be trying the carnitas I hear they are good too.
(5)russ h.
This is my first time here since they moved from Broadway, and they haven't missed a beat. I was there for lunch with a buddy, he ordered the el pastor burrito and I got the carnitas meal for 1 (it should say for 4 and for only $5.50... super bargain) My buddies el pastor was fantastic and my carnitas were awesome. Tender, moist with a nice crisp crunch on the outside. They also gave us a complementary plate of chicharones with fixens... great eats, but makes the carnitas look like health food. And yeah, I ate quite a bit. Needed a Lipitor shooter to chase it all down! The red salsa could use a little more flavor, but everything else was spot on. And the service was superb. Smiles, friendly and very helpful in ordering. I'll be back!!!
(4)Robert H.
Good Mexican food here! This is the only place I know where I can get a half pound of Carnitas, rice & beans, tortillas, chips and salsa for $5.50!
(4)Matthew G.
I FINALLY checked this place out last night. The place was kind of dirty. The girl who took my order seemed like she would rather be somewhere else. She just didn't seem to care. Not rude but very annoying. Got the carnitas dinner for one... good price and now I see why. The tortillas were awful. The rice and beans were good but COME ON.... it's rice and beans. The pork was not very good. Very greasy and tasted like it had bed sitting around for a while. Needless to say......... I spent some time on the hopper after eating at thins place. Too bad. I was hoping this place would be as good as it's rating but unfortunately it is nowhere near 4 stars. If you're in La Mesa and want mexican...... go to Alberts or Marios. AVOID this place and Por Favor.
(1)Justin ..
I use sites like this often, so when I find something that deserves recognition, either positive or negative, I'll make my small contribution. Last night my girlfriend stopped by this place on the way home and noticed they do "street tacos" on Saturday nights, so she brought some home. (I've since learned they do them Fri, Sat & Sun 6PM - 11PM). They do them outside on a rotating spigot, exactly the same as how they make them in TJ. Double up on the tortillas, etc.. For those who know the TJ style street tacos, you'll know what I mean. I've made numerous trips to T.J over the years, mainly for their street tacos (and margs!) It has been over 10 years, perhaps longer, since my last visit. I have truly missed them and other then that place in Lakeside (Second & Broadway area) I have not been able to find anything close. Sure, many places offer "street tacos," but they are basically just tiny tacos, perhaps doubled with two tortillas, but nothing even close to what they do (taste) in T.J. The ones I had last night from Carnitas Uruapan brought me back in time. I can't be certain they are as good as the ones in T.J. however I can be certain they are exactly as I remembered. Either way, I would HIGHLY recommend to anybody who also loves "street tacos" to give these a try. They do only come in pork, which is what I only got anyhow. I only gave four stars, as I have never actually eaten here, but for those "street tacos" 10 stars! Nice job to that family, and PLEASE keep that part of your eatery going!!!!! My only complaint is I should have opened my eyes more, as I only live a few blocks away and go by there often. Never even noticed they had them ;(
(4)Michael D.
Great prices and friendly service. $1 street tacos on Fri./sat./sun. Try the chipotle chicken and rolled tacos Stuffed INTO a burrito for a modest $4.50. I live nearby and these guys never dissappoint.
(4)Dan H.
I Love Carnitas. I've always loved Carnitas Uruapan. From Spring Valley, to Lemon Grove, and now finally in La Mesa..... Carnitas Uruapan continues to Wow. I generally get the Carnitas Dinner for Two, and take home. The tortillas are still fire-hot when I get them home, everything is delicious, and the huge dinner for two with beans, rice, tortillas, salsa, onions, cilantro and Carnitas is less than $12. I can't MAKE this meal for that little money. Keep up the good work, Carnitas Uruapan!
(5)Joshua M.
For the price, a carnitas plate is a pretty good deal at the Carnitas Uruapan. Having been there only once I'm not sure if they have the option to do crispier carnitas, but I'm generally not a big fan of the non-crispy larger chunk variety. The flavor was alright, but the meat seemed a little fatty. I would have 4 starred it but the girl at the counter was borderline rude to my wife when she ordered. Our food also sat up at the front while she conversed with a friend, and then when she remembered we were still waiting for it she hands our meal to her friend, who in turn walks over to where we were sitting and hands it to us. It was ODD.
(3)Marco R.
Try this fantastic place forget what ppl say... No ones perfect.. family business ...good food and so much more,u wanna hear the full story about the legendary carnitas uruapan juss ask the owners forget the rumors..
(5)A B.
Filthy. Salsa is flavorless.
(1)Melanie G.
This place is bomb! Best carnitas in town. Love the new location with a drive thru!
(5)Ernesto L.
First let me start by saying that I'm stoked that Carnitas Uruapan moved closer to my house! Carnitas is the obvious choice to get here, which of course are delicious! Moist, flavorful, and slightly crispy. The refried beans are really good as well, but to me the star was their Tacos al pastor. They are true Mexican street tacos, just like you get across the border! They cook the marinated pork right on a spit as its done traditionally. Since these kind of tacos are on my death row meal list, this is truly a God send; ten minutes from my house! They only make these tacos on the weekends, so do yourself a favor and get some soon!
(4)D W.
The carnitas was good and the service was friendly. It was dingy (kind of dingier than it had to be, or should be) but that doesn't really bug me. I'd definitely eat here again and will flesh out my review then. You should try it too.
(3)Alex T.
I was really excited to try this as a co-worker was raving about it. I went through the drive thru and the cook took my order. The girl who rang me up didn't even make eye contact and seemed like she didn't want to be there. The food took about 8 minutes for me to get. The carnitas taco, which I thought they were known for, had good flavor, but way to dry. The pastor taco was much better, with more lemon notes than most I've had. I'll try it again, but for now my rating stands.
(3)Rebecca P.
Died and went to heaven!!! Every bit as good as across the border. Had their carnitas sopes and they were soooooo good! When your in the mood for authentic Mexican food like abuelita use to make...this is the place to go.
(5)Jewyl A.
Woah, their carnitas are DELICIOUS and SUCH A DEAL. Not kidding, my friend and I got the carnitas for 2 and it was $11... we gorged ourselves, then we took home left overs. Yum
(4)Jen S.
we were sad when the original closed but glad when our taco shop (like a block from our house) closed and reopened as Carnitas Uruapan! Love there guacamole and love the street tacos on the weekends too. Just wish they had beer...street tacos and a Pacifico go hand in hand to me sooo....maybe they will one day but in the mean time being a block away we can walk home for a beer. Drive through is a plus on lazy days.
(4)Edie G.
We were planing a party and decided we would have the food prepared by some else to save us from doing all the cooking. We wanted an authentic Mexican Buffet with Carnitas as the main dish. We had tried several places but they just were not quite right. We had the budget, party location, guests had RSVP....but no food yet. Then we remembered a little place that had recommended to us and off we went to try the food for ourselves. Carnitas Uruapan Mexican Food, it's a really small little place that unless you're looking for it, you would probably drive right past it. So we went to dinner there to scope it out. We ordered the Carnitas dinner for two, one pound of meat, served with rice, beans, tortillas, as well as cilantro, onions tomatoes, lemons/lime. $11.00 Wow too much food, it was really good, the pork was tender and the rice and beans had a lot of flavor and they have a salsa bar you can add to your food accordingly hot and spicy or mild. We enjoyed our meal sitting out on the little patio and decided we had found the food. But could we order it and have them cater and it still be this good? We decided to find out exactly what they offered. And we are so glad we did! We ordered food for 30+ people; it was a larger version of the Carnitas for two. Large trays of meat, and beans, rice and along with all the trimmings, cilantro, onions, tomatoes and limes, we had extra sides of guacamole and various salsas, and pickled jalapenos and carrots. As well as a large amount of both corn and flour tortillas. Everything was piping hot and wrapped up really well, all we had to do was put their trays into our warmers. Everyone enjoyed the food and there was plenty leftover for everyone that wanted too to take a plate. We were extremely satisfied with everything! The food, cost and the excellent service and the helpful staff, a special thanks for Liz for helping us with our menu and for making our party a success.
(5)Bernadine N.
I love this place!!! Great food, Nice People!!
(5)Hai B.
The new place is smaller but has all the good pork fixing of the old place. It's quite the drive out to La Mesa but when I'm in the area, it's worth a stop. Same good, juicy pork deliciousness. You can't go wrong with the meal for 4.
(3)Heather M.
omg great dinner have street tacos on the weekend that are outstanding feels like we are eating in TJ without the TJ lol
(5)Danna S.
Las MEJORES carnitas de San Diego! If you are jonesing after some carnitas like we were, REJOICE! The owners of this "new" Carnitas Uruapan are the former cooks at the "old" Carnitas Uruapan on Broadway Ave. in Lemon Grove. After Doña Maggie sadly passed away, her son Hector decided to get out of the restaurant business, but let his former employees take the name and they are running with it. All the great carnitas that you remember, served with the BEST frijoles refritos, guacamole, rice and your choice of tortillas and at an incredible price...we only paid 12.78 for carnitas for 2 people ( 1 lb. of carnitas, beans, guac, rice and 'tillas ) and a soda. Amazingly cheap!!! They are also making some new items like tacos al pastor that we haven't tried yet, but will definitely go back for. The restaurant is run by the 2 brothers who were the chefs and their whole family is pitching in to help, so come out and support this small business. They are now open 7 days a week, and are open until 11:00 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and until 10 p.m. on Sundays.
(5)