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    Carnitas Carmelita

    4.2 (36 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican, Food Stands
    Closed 10:30 am - 3:00 pm

    Carnitas Carmelita Photos

    Business Info

    CARNITAS CARMELITA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Classy
    Quiet
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Carnitas Carmelita

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    Allyson B.

    These are the best tacos I've had in Chattanooga hands down!! Carnitas Carmelita is this incredible authentic Mexican joint situated in a tiny shack off Amnicola Highway--- honestly I wouldn't have given this place a second look passing by but I'm so glad we wandered in! My boyfriend and I had a great lunch experience here. The service is fast, the prices are cheap, and THE FOOD IS GOOD. The first bite I took out of the carne azada burrito I ordered was so tasty and flavorsome--- officially my favorite burrito in town! My boyfriend had ordered chorizo tacos and a pollo (chicken) burrito. After trying his chorizo taco I immediately regretted not ordering my own. Everything we've tried at Carnitas Carmelita so far has been delicious! Don't let the exterior throw you off. This place is a must try!

    Tongue Taco, Chorizo Taco, Carne Asada Taco
    Matthew O.

    At first glance, this was a super tiny shack in the middle of nowhere Chattanooga next to a rather sketch looking gas station. When you do go inside, you walk into an incredibly cramped 3 table establishment. But upon walking in, you are greeted by some of the friendliest people as well as some of the best tacos I have ever eaten. My gosh, cooked to order for a cheap price, double corn tortillas, fresh ingredients, I can go on and on. In short, the tacos were so. good. It may be in the middle of nowhere, but just for the tacos, it was definitely worth driving out there. Definitely give this place a try!

    My drink came with a mouse turd. Free of charge.
    Andrew E.

    I went here with only moderate expectations, and it turns out that I had still set the bar too high. First of all, I asked for tacos with carne asada AND chorizo. For most places, it's an easy upcharge for an extra meat... but not for the taco Nazis. No second meat for You!... on top of that, the carne asada tacos that I did get were not good....at all. It was more gristle than meat. To top it all off, the canned drink that I bought had a mouse turd on it. I won't be back.

    The place is tiny.  Normally means it is really good.
    Julie B.

    Wow kind of like a hole in the hole of a wall. Seriously this place has like 3 tables. It is nice to be able to sit but the layout actually interferes with people trying to come in to the place. However that didn't stop any of us very determined folks from ordering and getting our food. Menu board is fairly simple but I couldn't help but think I bet they do it all very well. I got carnitas with a side of Guacamole. You don't get a lot of guacamole. I kind of thought when I saw it, is that all for $2.50?? However it is so very tasty. It is like a mix of pico and guacamole or something but I loved the flavor combinations. My carnitas were really good, though the outside of some of the pieces was tough. Gosh the corn tortillas have to be home made, again some of the best I have had. And you get two salsas with the meal to make little pork tacos. Rice and beans were great. I will come back and try other stuff. The place doesn't jump out at you so you probably should put it in directions if you want to find it. It is next to a gas station and parking is also a bit tight.

    Tortas
    Chris D.

    Please for your own tastebud's sake don't pass this little gem without grabbing at least a few authentic street tacos. It's not fancy, but it's clean, the food is FANTASTIC as it's cooked to order and the mom and pop that run this are so nice. Their menu is small and simple but FULL OF FLAVOR. They have tortas, tacos, and quesadillas mainly but with about 9 protein (meat) options. Steak, shrimp, tongue (lingue), chicken, carnitas, Barbacoa, chorizo and a few others. The sauce they give is home made and great and will set your taste buds on fire (if you're not used to spicy stuff). They have a green verde salsa and red. Both have heat. I placed my order, waited maybe 5 minutes (at lunch) and then was given my order. This is not amigos or el meson, this is an authentic Mexican street taco stand and I will most definitely be returning many times in the future. The do accept debit and credit as well as denero (cash) and have a nice variety of Mexican and American sodas and drinks. For the price and quality and friendliness I have to give this little shack a 5 star review. Try them, you won't be sorry. (Oh the portions are generous).

    a menu for a mexican restaurant

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    1 year ago

    always in the search for a good taco so I stopped in and grab some tacos. They were very delicious.

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Good food, made to order, every day might be a little different. Fresh ingredients and friendly people.

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    the carnitas were poor quality and extremely greasy. tasted like reused oil or fat. not a very good taste, will not be coming back.

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    12 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

    fantastic food in an easy to miss location, dont sleep on this place! fantastic tacos, tortas, and burritos!

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    11 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Love their tacos. Cheap and tasty; very fast service at lunch.

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    10 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Good little taco place, not many of you know this but you can get 1lbs of pork for 5 dollars if you ask

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    11 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Thanks Yelp, excellent suggestion! Would have never stopped there on my own. Tacos were great and so was the servic

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    12 years ago

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    Mezcla Cocina Y Cantina

    Mezcla Cocina Y Cantina

    4.3
    (182 reviews)
    2.4 mi

    Went there on a Saturday around noon. Place was not too busy. Location and parking is little…read moretricky. Waitress welling and informative. Relaxed decor and glass corner windows. We started with the Pozole Verde soup which has chicken and veggies and is amazing. Must try!! The Texas fajita wish trio was full of steak chicken and shrimp. Good portion for the size and the meats marinated well and very juicy. The chicken burrito was packed with shredded chicken. The Birria tacos beef came with a tangy zesty dipping sauce. Yummy on a crispy tacos. The start dish has to be the fish tacos. Large mahi fillet is the center and nice topping. Well balanced. Not soggy. We loved everything. We highly recommend this place!

    This is our go to Mexican restaurant in Chattanooga. Located in the heart of North Shore, this…read moreplace is right on the corner of N Market St with large windows for people watching. It's very modern with vibrant decor and good music playing. There's a large Bar in the middle of the restaurant with TV's and booths and tables all around. No outdoor dining that I can remember, but I could be mistaken. We've had several dishes, but my go to is the Spicy Burrito with Tinga or grilled chicken. You won't find a spicier burrito with flavor anywhere in town. If you like melted cheese, almost every dish is swimming in it. According to my wife the Margaritas are on point! I prefer a cold beer. The service is good. We're always greeted and have good conversation with the servers and bar tenders when we dine in VS take out. They have a big party for Cinco de Mayo every year. Highly recommend.

    Photos
    Restaurant area
    Restaurant area
    Churros
    Churros
    Side with fajita

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    Side with fajita
    Little Coyote

    Little Coyote

    4.3
    (115 reviews)
    5.5 mi

    We had a fun meal. Our focus was on the small plates which we ordered and shared - 4 in total, but…read moreplenty of food for our date night. The selections were both interesting and traditional - a combination of old Oaxacan classics and modern Mexican faire. Plenty of opportunity to broaden your gastronomic range! Liberty, our server, was fun and engaging and full of helpful hints. We dined outdoors and the weather was perfect for it. Great view of the incline railway too. Overall our experience was muy excellente!

    This was spotted by my wife and she immediately added it to our must try list while visiting. This…read moreis a cool establishment with awesome, young and hip waiters. We had our two young girls and they were very understanding and accommodating (high chair and coloring sheets). The menu is interesting but to be honest, we enjoyed almost none of our items. The cocktails were very meh. Not awful but not great. The food is really where this place lacks in my opinion. No one was a fan of almost any dish we got. The puffy tacos with redfish were likely the worst. Under seasoned and close to being gross. The catfish dish was so so. The fish itself was good but the grits were hard and the green tomatoes were so sour that they overpowered everything else. The ribs tried but I'd suggest going to a legit BBQ joint for real meats like this. The potatoes were greasy and mostly bland. I'd rank this our least favorite meal in the city. Interestingly enough. We were just at a Michelin star restaurant less than a week before and had the complete opposite experience.

    Photos
    Inside view
    Inside view
    Smoke oxtail chili ..different style of chili
    Smoke oxtail chili ..different style of chili
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    Mayan Kitchen

    Mayan Kitchen

    4.4
    (518 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    My family was staying at a nearby hotel and decided to try this place for dinner after a concierge…read moresuggested it. So happy we did! It was delicious. We enjoyed strawberry margaritas, queso, Mayan fajitas, steak tacos and kids Mac & cheese. Service was great & the restaurant was very clean. Would definitely go back if we're in Chattanooga.

    This is one of the best places I have found to eat in Chattanooga. The food and service are…read moreconsistently excellent, and the experience is reliable every time. The bathrooms are always clean, which I appreciate. Paid street parking is usually easy to find, though during busy hours it can take a little more time. The veggie fajitas are an absolute treat and full of flavor. The guacamole is fresh and perfectly seasoned, and the salsa is truly top notch. One of the most delightful surprises is that the churros are vegan, and they are unforgettable. The Papillón dish is especially meaningful. It can be made vegan and comes from the owner's grandmother's recipe in Guatemala. That personal touch really shines through and makes the menu feel inspired and unique. There used to be a young blonde male bartender who was hands down one of the best servers I have ever had. He was personable and somehow remembered both your order and your conversations even months later. That level of hospitality really stood out. Prices are not cheap, and the ingredients are not explicitly organic, but the quality, flavor, and thoughtful menu make it well worth it. Highly recommend if you are looking for consistently great food and a standout dining experience in Chattanooga.

    Photos
    Maya kitchen
    Maya kitchen
    Fajitas
    Fajitas
    Bar area

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    Bar area

    Carnitas Carmelita - mexican - Updated June 2026

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