Ordered takeout from Carnitas El Guero and have to say simple food done well! I ordered the 1 lb combo (I asked for half pound carnitas and half pound fajita) and the portion was generous. It came with 10 tortillas, salsa roja, salsa verde, grilled cebollita with habanero, plus cilantro and lime on the side. Everything was packed separately and still warm when I got home. Carnitas - 3.5/5 Tender with those little crispy edges that make carnitas so good. Not greasy, just rich and flavorful pork. But I would hope it could be more juicy. Fajita - 4.5/5 Really solid. Nicely seasoned and grilled with a good smoky flavor. The meat was tender and worked great in the tacos with a little lime and salsa. Salsa roja Smoky and definitely the spicier of the two. Salsa verde Fresher and brighter. Fixings The grilled onions with habanero were a great touch -- sweet, slightly spicy, and super flavorful. Overall what stood out most was the value and generosity. For a one-pound combo they give you a lot of food and all the toppings to go with it. It's the kind of place where you can easily feed two people (or have leftovers). Simple, authentic, and very satisfying. Would absolutely order this again when the carnitas craving hits. Did not pick up in store so cannot comment on the ambiance. read more

See all

I went because it had great reviews but I was not that impressed. The beef soup was a good portion. The combo also had a big portion, 2 people could share. I give it 3 stars because of the atmosphere and service, not so great. Their music was extremely loud. read more

Carnitas el Guero - Beef soup - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

This spot is hands down one of THE BEST hidden gems for authentic Mexican food in town. On my top 3 list for Mexican food for sureee. The pozole is honestly the BEST I've had--so rich, flavorful, and comforting. They give you the juiciest limes, onions & other stuff to put in the pozole but it didn't need anything honestly it was some of the best pozole I ever had. If your looking to shed a tear because of how much it taste like home go here! Lol The pork is insanely tender and seasoned perfectly. The quesadilla is huge & the beef is really good too. You can tell everything is made with care and tradition. The tacos are also top-tier. Every bite was full of flavor, and it just got better every bite!!! And let me tell you, the portions are no joke--you definitely won't leave hungry. Everything came out fresh, hot, and super satisfying. I made a 20 min drive home and my Pozole was still pipinggggg hot I mean I had to wait a sec to eat it and that is all I can ask for when taking food to go. They have drinks too like Mexican coke, other sodas, beers, and margaritas!! I will say, if you don't speak Spanish you might need a translator but if you know enough you'll be fine! Haha overall If you're craving something real and full of flavor, this is the place. I'll definitely be back! Also forgot to mention they're open until 2 AM! Late night bites at its finesttttt. read more

See all

If you're looking for a late night spot to eat with your friends, Carnitas el Guero is the place to go. With ample seating, convenient hours, and delicious pambazos, this place was a pleasant surprise on a random Friday night. Walking into the restaurant, we were greeted by their friendly staff who happened to only speak Spanish. After some pointing and broken Spanish, we managed to place our orders. I decided to try something other than the ordinary taco or torta and ended up with a pambazo. I didn't know this at the time, but a pambazo is similar to a torta except the bread is dipped in red chile sauce and fried until crispy. It blew my expectations out of the water. Each bite was dripping with flavor, and the bread complemented the meat and onions so well that my picture doesn't do it justice. The portions were also huge so don't worry about being hungry afterwards. I'll be back some day to try the rest of the menu, but for now I would definitely recommend this place and their pambazo con carnitas. read more

Carnitas el Guero - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Food was great :) staff was friendly :) will definitely be back. Carnitas was not greasy and had a ton of meat. read more

Carnitas el Guero - Carnitas double - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

The food was delicious and good local atmosphere. The carnitas were flavorful. The torta de carne asada was delicious. The taco de chicharron prensado was on point. read more

See all

Great Tacos !!! Great service !!! Good atmosphere! Tried this place on a quick lunch break wasn't disappointed at all. Highly recommend. read more

I really really wanted to love this spot.. it was okay. The chorizo quesadilla is massive, so was more than enough food for two meals. I wish there was more cheese to hold it together because meat/grease was spilling out all over the place. I'd be willing to give it another shot, but it's not anywhere close to the top of my list. read more

See all

Great authentic Mexican food! Love this place! Staff is friendly and welcoming! Great experience

Great food, carnitas & their aguas frescas are on point. Their doraditas- not so much. They looked really good but they were hard and the meat inside was almost charcoal. Service isn't the best but I came for the carnitas and nothing else. read more

The carnitas here are amazing. I love going and ordering the family pack. They give you so much and the pickled onions are amazing. The service is fast. We have done to go and dine in both options where great. read more

I left my wallet and someone took it (my fault not theirs) came back next day in the morning asked to see the cameras, told me to come back during the afternoon shift , I came back they said wait till the manager comes back, I came back when the manager was there, manager didn't even want to speak with me one lady told me to come back when their boss came to the property (when is that?) . I know they had to get it the were all rude except one lady mid food shitty service read more

Most people reviewed here about the language barrier, well, they hired someone who's great in communicating english. We didn't have difficulty ordering what we wanted. Food is delicious, the cucumber drink is huge and refreshing. It's also true their music is loud. read more

Carnitas el Guero - Orden Personal Carnitas (2) - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

Wow, this was a bomb lunch! I wanted tacos and Yelp came to the rescue. These are quite the filling tacos. They will bring it out on a tray with cilantro, onions (fresh and grilled), limes, jalapeños and you can add all the salsa you want. The quesadilla is so thick, cheesy and tasty and will make you drool the whole time. You truly do get a lot of food for your money here. read more

Carnitas el Guero - Asada tacos Carnitas tacos - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

The worst pozole I've ever had in my life! It's literally red water with taco meat added after. Absolutely no flavor. And $16? The audacity to charge that much for this bland water is an insult. The carnitas were also bland and mediocre but the pozole took the cake as one of the worst things I've ever had. El peor pozole de toda mi vida! Es lo más desabrido que e probado en toda mi vida. Es literalmente agua roja con carne de taco. Y a $16 por una porción? Es un insulto a todos los mexicanos. read more

Great value for the portion size. The namesake carnitas were my favorite thing I ordered. Very moist and flavorful. Plenty of seating available. We had the pina con limon and damn it was tasty and fresh!! read more

Carnitas el Guero - Quesadilla with chicharron. Delicious! Though I don't see the chicharron... - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Leaving SXSW and heading down Lamar when we came up on Carnitas El Guero. Most places we past were already closed so we popped in. They were busy, we ordered Michalada's which were very good. My wife loves a good Michi, I can take'em or leave'em, this was a good one. Spicy but not overpowering, really good. We we're hungry so we ordered a libra of carnitas. What you can't see in the picture is how great the meat tasted along with both the red and green salsa. They grill a small cup of onions to go with the cilantro. We've only been in the Austin are for less than a year and hadn't found "the place" for carnitas tacos, we found it. They are open according to their door until 10:00 pm, it was after 11:00 pm when we stopped and they were still serving beers as we were leaving. Overall, service was great, food came out quickly and was delicious. We will be visiting El Guero again. read more

See all

Food: the carnitas taco is chef-kiss. The pollo taco is also really, really good, and this is a place I can see myself coming back to, and bringing friends. I did try a taco with chicharrones which were too oily and didn't have a unique flavor or texture either. I can't fault them since the other two dishes were perfect. Vibe: Relaxed space, helps to know a little Spanish. It's awesome they are open till 2:00 am, very few places I'd rather go to that late at night. read more

See all

Fantastic breakfast at an amazing price, particularly for Austin. Rather than coming from a premade jug, our Agua Fresca was freshly made in a blender. The carnitas themselves were delicious, with three fantastic salsas to choose from. The tortillas were beautifully pliable and the marinated raw onions on the sides were a welcome addition. read more

See all

If I can impart a little wisdom to my fellow Yelpers, it's this... your enjoyment of the carnitas tacos here is largely dependent on how you order them. And they don't speak a ton of English, so pay close attention. Unlike brisket, which is at its most delicious when it is "moist," carnitas are at their zenith when they are served lean. So here is what you might ask for, in Spanish: - Un tacote de carnitas de maciza - En tortilla de maiz - Con cilantro y cebolla picadita The word "maciza" is critically important. You might not care for cilantro or onions or corn tortillas, but this is how they are traditionally served, with all the fixings. I hope this will empower you to try the most loved Mexican tacos OF ALL, the way most Mexicans enjoy them. read more

I visited during the day time around 4 pm. Service was fast and food hit the spot! The place was clean and not crowded, but that must've been because of the time of day that I went. read more

These carnitas tasted like we were back in Mexico. I mean seriously- I hope you speak Spanish 'cause they don't speak a whole lot of English. But it was totally worth it. If I had one complaint I would say we should've gone a little lighter on the skin. But the aroma... we had to eat one taco in the car before going home because it smelled so good. The rest barely made it inside before we tore into them. Gone in 10... maybe 15. So good! read more

Carnitas el Guero - a hand grabbing a tortilla from a styrofoam container - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

The Carnitas are so good. You will be asked if you want it mixed with other cuttings but sometimes the cuttings overpower the meat. Micheladas are big and yummy I've tried the fresh made aguas, they'll blend it up made to order I can recommend the freshness read more

This place is simple and nice. Very good food. Except the area were the restaurant at is not the best to be around at night

Quite possibly the best carnitas you're going to get in Austin. Yes, those are loaded words, but hey, I stand by them. These carnitas are good - *real* good. They fall into the category of "do one thing, and do it well", and boy howdy, do they do it well! Note, when ordering, you can get *just* the carnitas, or a mix of stuff - I recommend getting the mix, it's...amazeballs Enjoy!!! read more

See all

Food was delicious, we ordered the personal carnitas tacos, carnitas torta, and pastor torta. Service is quick and friendly, but if you don't speak Spanish, you may encounter a minor language barrier (but the menu is small, so you'll be fine). Personal mixed carnitas tacos - the meat is super delicious and our serving was pretty heavy on the skin and ears, which was fine for us. The 2 salsas they offer are really flavorful. The red is hotter and smoky and the green is fresh with a milder bite to it. Carnitas torta - delicious. Doesn't come with as much skin Pastor torta - also a win. The tortas are HUGE, you'll likely be taking half home! read more

Carnitas el Guero - Pastor torta - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

I had been wanting to check this place out. We had the carnitas, tacos of bistec, al pastor and tripa and an agua de piña and one of lime. The aguas were fresh and so good, don't skip on these. Not too sweet! The carnitas were good but I think they needed a little more seasoning, I added salt and that helped! The tripa was crispy but overall okay. The bistec was good but tasted better with the green avocado salsa and grilled onions. The al pastor was good as well. The service was good and food came out very fast. Worth a try and don't forget to get an agua:) read more

See all

Food: we have personal carnitas, chicharonnes tacos, pastor quesadillas, horchatas and mandarins Everything is delicious. Would definitely go back and maybe try something else. Carnitas is the best we've had. Service: quite intimidating for us since we don't speak Spanish and the server doesn't speak English. Service is nice tho. We asked the server if she has any favorites and she shared within our limited understanding. Pay at the register after meal. Ambiance: decor is cute. It feels like cafeteria. read more

See all

Despite being located in an unsavory part of town that I don't exactly feel the safest in, I've got to admit that I find myself craving the carnitas tacos from here often enough to be worth mentioning. Add some of that smoky red sauce or creamy green sauce, and you'll feel plenty satisfied after 3 servings. I'm also a big fan of their agua locas, which combines alcohol with cucumber, pineapple, and lemon juice! Very refreshing while giving you a happy buzz. I don't recommend ordering any other meat, though, because their el pastor tacos and chicken quesadillas are just average. Docking a star from what would have been a glowing 4-star review, since they're just not consistent. The quality and flavor of their carnitas varies depending on what time you visit and who's working in the kitchen. When it's good, it's really good. But when they're having an off night, it's a waste of a drive. read more

Carnitas el Guero - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

I ate them too fast to take a picture! I'm a huge tripas fan and these were one of the best i've had in Austin. Seems super authentic to me, will be one of my new favorite spots read more

I did not know what to expect for my first time at Carnitas el Guero and it did not disappoint. We shared three entrees: Quesadilla, Gordita, & Tostada. And I got what was called, I believe, essentially a pitcher of Tequila. What it was a clay pitcher filled with tequila and something like a Squirt soda. The food was delicious and the meat especially in the Quesadilla and Tostada were so good. They were both pork. Wow, would go back for those. And the tequila pitcher was huge and delicious and it was only $14. The prices were very reasonable and just a few things I would change in terms of the environment and food. But def recommend! read more

Carnitas el Guero - The pitcher of tequila and a happy boy. - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Man this play so trash!!! Watery beans, microwave heated rice, super skimpy, and I told her no onions or cilaantro and I caught her taking it off by hand! This place is trash go to Howard and Dessau way better food! read more

Carnitas el Guero - Watery beans microwave riced the container busted cold chicken and beef not worth it - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

I sat down and a waitress took my order. Waited 45 mins and never got my order. Then decided to ask her about the order and she just pretended like I never ordered anything. No apologize or anything for forgetting to put the order in. Didn't want to acknowledge that we even had the conversation lol. One of the weirdest restaurants experiences I've ever had. The food at other peoples tables looked good though. read more

It's a super authentic Mexican spot where there are fumes from the meat just circulating through the place and the staff will speak Spanish to you right away even though they can speak English if you want! Was cool to find this little cultural oasis in east the middle of town. The food was good and salsas tasted great but the price was a little high for the food. I shouldn't assume Mexican food should be cheaper and you shouldn't either so don't expect to pay for a cheap hole in the wall type of Mexican spot. For a good sized meal, it'll be about the same price as a decent hip modern restaurant. Super friendly staff and good food, worth checking out! read more

See all

Amazing food; Carnitas, Birria, Agua Frescas all 10/10 and if you're lucky enough to catch a Karaoke night the vibe is immaculate.

For tacos you won't get 5 stars from me unless the tacos are absolutely delicious! The beef tacos here are amazing and worth it! The portion definitely makes up for the price. Take a look at the menu before you come so that you are ready because it can take a minute but it was worth it! The staff is definitely quick and ready to take your order. Our service was nice and attentive. The inside was pretty basic with Mexican basic in the background but that's all you need if you have good tacos! read more

this place is the best. Incredible food. Huge portions . Good prices. The manager is awesome. Went out of his way to make me feel welcome even gave me a free agua Fresca because he wanted me to try it. Just be careful of green sauce, it's crazy hot! I'm going broke because I go here all the time. read more

Venden puro puerco y esta muy bueno. Muy bien servido y puedes comer bastante como por $7-8. Lo que se me hizo lo más bueno fue la orden de carnitas con la agua fresca de piña limón y pepino. Muy bien servido y las cebollitas y salsas le dan buen sabor a todo. Tienen servicio rápido entonces es muy buen lugar para ir frecuentemente. Creo que lo mejor que puedes hacer es pedir una libra de carnitas para llevar y te la hechas en tu casa agusto. Bastante recomendado. They only sell pork and it's great. Everything is served in large portions and you can eat a decent meal for $7-8. What I liked the most was the order of carnitas and the agua fresca of pineapple, lime and cucumber. I thought it was fresh and perfectly sweetened. They have quick service which makes this a good spot to frequent. I recommend going here on the weekend, ordering a pound of carnitas and taking it home to enjoy with the family. Highly recommend this place read more

See all

Excellent place for truly authentic carnitas. The kind of place where you're better off ordering in Spanish and then enjoying un-adapted Mexican food and super generous portions. It's very simple inside, yet the service is attentive and friendly. Good for kids (high chairs and kids meals available). Loved it and will be back. read more

THE most authentic street tacos you'll find in Austin!!!! There was a bit of a language barrier for us, as the severs did not speak English, but we made it work! Tacos came with green and red sauce that were sooooo good. The posole is well balanced and they provide extra seasoning on the side to make it to your liking. The inside is a little warm and the aromas from the kitchen are really strong, so be prepared for that! read more

See all